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LEFT END EDWARDS

The "Forward Pass"

LEFT END EDWARDS

RALPH HENRY BARBOUR

AUTHOR OF
THE HALF-BACK, ETC,

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY ,

CHARLES M. RELYEA

NEW YORK

GROSSET & DUNLAP

PUBLISHERS

344941B

* - ' * , JLl,

* • \ • *»

CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I

II
III

VII

VIII

XII

XIII

XIV

XVI

XVII

XVIII

XIX

XXI

XXII

XXIII

XXIV

XXV

XXVI

XXVII

XXVIII

PAGE

FATHERS AND SONS . . . . 3

OFF TO SCHOOL 13

STOP THIEF ! 24

OUT FOR BRIMFIELD! .... 40
NUMBER 12 BILLINGS .... 51

CLUES! 62

THE CONFIDENCE-MAN .... 73
IN THE SUBBING ROOM . . . .86
BACK IN TOGS . . . .98

" CHEAP FOR CASH : . 112

" HOLD 'EM, THIRD! ; 125

CANTERBURY ROMPS ON AND OFF . 142

SAWYER VOWS VENGEANCE . . . 157
A LESSON IN TACKLING . . .170
STEVE WINNOWS SOME CHAFF . . 182

MR. DALEY IS OUT 202

THE BLUE-BOOK 212

B PLUS AND D MINUS . . . . 225
THE SECOND PUTS IT OVER . . . 235
BLOWS ARE STRUCK . . . .251
FRIENDS FALL OUT . . . .267
STEVE GETS A SURPRISE . . . 28'
DURKIN SHEDS LIGHT .... 297
THE DAY BEFORE THE BATTLE . . 309
TOM TO THE RESCUE .... 323
AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF . 334
STEVE SMILES . . . . . 346
THE CHUMS READ A TELEGRAM 360

ILLUSTRATIONS

The u Forward Pass " ... Frontispiece

FACING PAGE

Steve slipped on the tiling and fell sidewise

into the water (page 166) .... 80

" Lift! " instructed the quarter-back. " Lift
me up and yank my feet out from under
me! Use your weight and throw me
back! " 178

It was Steve, Steve on his back, with only his

head and shoulders above the water 324

LEFT END EDWARDS

4 LEFT END EDWABDS

tered the leaves of tlie pamphlet and glanced out
into the street to see if any friends were in sight.
But it was Sunday afternoon, and rainy, and the
wide, maple-bordered street, its neat artificial
stone sidewalks shimmering with moisture, was
quite deserted. With a sigh Steve went back to
the pamphlet. It bore the inscription on the
outer cover: " Brimfield Academy,' and, below,
in parenthesis, " William Torrence Foundation."

" What does ' William Torrence Foundation '
mean, dad? " asked the boy.

Again Mr. Edwards lowered his paper, with a
sigh. " It means, as you will discover for your-
self if you will take the trouble to read the cata-
logue, that a man named William Torrence gave
the money to establish the school. Now, for good-
ness sake, Steve, let me read in peace for a min-
ute! "

11 Yes, sir. Thank you." Steve turned the
pages, glanced again at the ' ' View of Main Build-
ing from the Lawn " and began to read. " In
1878 William Torrence, Esq., of New York City,
visited his native town of Brimfield and interested
the citizens in a plan to establish a school on a
large tract of land at the edge of the town which
had been in the Torrence family for many genera-
tions. Two years later tlie school was built and,

LEFT END EDWAEDS 5

under the title of Torrence Seminary, began a
successful career which has lasted for thirty-two
years. Under the principalship of Dr. Andrew
Morey, the institution increased rapidly in use-
fulness, and in 1892 it was found necessary to add
two wings to the original structure at a cost of
$34,000, also the gift of the founder. Dr. Morey 's
connection with the school ended four years later,
when the services of the present head, Mr. Joshua
Fernald, A.M., were secured. The death of Mr.
Torrence in 1897, after a long and honoured ca-
reer, removed the school's greatest friend and
benefactor, but, by the terms of his will, placed
it bevond the reach of want for many vears.

f %/ v

With new buildings and improvements made pos-
sible by the generous provisions of the testament
the school soon took its place amongst the fore-
most institutions of its kind. In 1908 the charter
name was changed to Brimfield Academy — Wil-
liam Torrence Foundation, the course was length-
ened from four years to six and the present era of
well-deserved prosperity was entered on. Brim-
field Academy now has accommodations for 260
boys, its faculty consists of 19 members and its

buildings number 8. Situated as it is '

Steve yawned frankly, viewed again the som-
nolent street and idly turned the pages. There

6 LEFT END EDWARDS

were several pictures, but lie had seen them all
many times and only the one labelled " 'Varsity
Athletic Field — Gymnasium Beyond ' ' claimed his
interest for a moment. At last,

" They've got a peach of an athletic field, dad,'
he observed approvingly. " I can see six goals,
and that means three gridirons. And there's a
baseball field besides. The catalogue says that
' provision is also made for tennis, boating and
swimming,' but I don't see any tennis courts in
the picture."

" All right," grunted his father from behind
the paper.

11 I wonder," continued Steve musingly, " where
you get your boating and swimming. It says that
Long Island Sound is two and a half miles distant.
That's a long old ways to go for a swim, isn't it?

Mr. Edwards laid the paper across his knees and
regarded the boy severely. " Steve," he said,
" about the only thing I've heard from you since
that catalogue arrived is the athletic field and the
gymnasium. I'd like to refresh your mind on one
point, my son.'

" Yes, sir! " said Steve without much eager-
ness.

" I'd like to remind you that you are not going
to Brimfield Academy to play football or baseball,

LEFT END EDWAEDS 7

or to swim. You're going there to study and
learn! I don't propose to spend four hundred
and fifty dollars a year, besides a whole lot for
extras, to have you taught how to kick a football
or make a home-hit. And

* ' A home-run, sir, ' corrected Steve humbly.

" Or whatever it is, then. I expect you to
buckle down when you get there and learn. Ee-
member that you've got just two years in which
to prepare yourself for college. If you aren't
ready then, you don't go. That's flat, my boy, and
I want you to understand it. So, if you have any
idea of football and tennis as your — er — principal
courses you want to get it right out of your head.
Now, for a change, suppose you have a look at the
studies in front of you, and don't let me hear any-
thing more about the gymnasium or the — the what-
do-you-call-it field. '

" All right, sir.' Steve obediently turned the
pages back. " Just the same," he said to him-
self, " he didn't know what ' mens sana in corpore
sano ' meant any better than I did! Bet you he
didn't kill himself studying when he went to
school! : With a sigh he found the " Courses of
Study " and read: " Form IV. Classical. Latin:
Vergil's Aeneid, IV — XII, Cicero and Ovid at
sight, Composition (5). Greek: Xenophon's Hel-

8 LEFT END EDWARDS

lenica, Selections, Iliad and Odyssey, Selections,
Sight Beading, Reviews, Composition (5). Ger-
man (optional) (4). French: Advanced Gram-
mar and Composition, Le Siege de Paris, Le Bar-
bier de Saville "

At that moment a shrill whistle sounded outside
the library window and Steve 's eyes fled from the
pamphlet to the grinning face of Tom Hall set
between two of the fence pickets. The Catalogue
of Brimfield Academy was tossed to the further
end of the seat, and Steve, nodding vigorously
through the window, jumped to his feet.

"I'm going for a walk with Tom, sir/ he an-
nounced half-way to the hall door. Mr. Edwards,
smothering a sigh of relief, glanced at the
weather.

" Very well," he said. " Don't get your feet
wet. And — er — be back before it 's dark. '

Steve disappeared into the dim hallway and Mr.
Edwards gave honest expression to his sense of
relief by elevating his feet to the seat of a neigh-
\ bouring chair, dropping the newspaper and, with
a luxurious sigh, composing himself for his Sun-
day afternoon nap. But peace \vas not yet his,
for a minute or two later Steve came hurrying in
again. Mr. Edwards opened his eyes with a
frown.

LEFT END EDWAEDS 9

" Sorry, sir," said Steve, " but Tom wants to
see the catalogue."

His father nodded drowsily and Steve, securing
the pamphlet, stole out again with creaking Sun-
day shoes. Very quietly the front door went shut
and peace at last pervaded the house. In the li-
brary, Mr. Edwards, dropping into slumber, was
dimly conscious of a last disturbing thought. It
was that he was going to miss that boy of his a
whole lot after next week !

11 It's all right," declared Tom Hall as he took
the catalogue from Steve with eager fingers.
' t At least, I 'm pretty sure it is. He said at dinner
that he'd think it over, and when he says that it
means — that it's all right. What do you say,
eh? "

" Bully! ' That was what Seve said. And he
said it not only once but several times and with
varying degrees of enthusiasm and volume. And,
as though fearing his chum would doubt his satis-
faction, he accompanied each " Bully! with an
emphatic thump on Tom's back. Tom, choking
and coughing, squirmed out of the way.

* ' Here ! Ho-ho-hold on, you silly chump ! You
don't have to kill a fellow! :

16 Won't it be dandy! : ' exclaimed Steve, beam-
ing. ' ' We can room together ! And- -and-

10 LEFT END EDWARDS

" You bet! And we can have a bully time on
the train, too. Gee, I never travelled as far as
that alone! ;

" I have! It's lots of fun! You eat your
meals in a dining-car and there's a smoking-room
where you can sit and chin as late as you want to
and you get off at the stations and walk up and
down the platform and you tip the negro porters
and "

" Wouldn't it be great if we both made the foot-
ball team, Steve? Of course, you'll make it any-
way, and I might if I had a little luck. Townsend
said last year I didn't do so badly, you know, and
if "

1 i Of course you'll make it ! We both will ; next
year anyway. I'll bet they've got lots of fellows
on the team no better than you are, Torn. Wait
till I show you the athletic field. It's a corker! :
And Steve's fingers turned the pages of the school
catalogue eagerly. " How's that? " he demanded
at last in triumph.

They paused under a dripping tree while Tom
viewed the picture, Steve looking over his
shoulder.

"It's fine!" sighed Tom at last. " Gee, I
hope — I hope he lets me! :

' ' Let °s go over there now so you can show him

LEFT END EDWAKDS 11

this," suggested Steve. But Torn snook Ms head
wisely.

" Not now," lie said. " He don't like to be
disturbed Sunday afternoons. He — he sort of has
a nap, you see.

" Just like dad," replied Steve. " Bet you
when I get as old as that I won't stick around the
house and go to sleep. Say, Tom, what does
' Mens sana in corpore sano ' mean? "

' ' A sound mind in a sound body, ' ' replied Tom
promptly. ' ' Why ? ' '

" It's in here and I asked dad and he didn't
know.' Steve chuckled. " He made believe he
was peevish with me, so's he wouldn't have to fess
up. Dad's foxy, all right! "

" Well, you ought to have known, Steve," said
Tom severely.

66 Sure," agreed Steve untroubledly. " That's
what he said. Let's take that a minute. I want
to show you the picture of the campus."

11 Let's sit down somewhere and look it over,"
said Tom. " I told father that it was a school
where they were terribly strict with the fellows
and you had to study awfully hard all the time.
I wonder if it is.'

" I don't believe so," answered Steve. " They
say so much about football and baseball and things

12 LEFT END EDWARDS

like that you can tell they aren't cranky about
studying. And look at the pictures of the differ-
ent teams in here. There's the baseball nine, see?
Pretty husky looking bunch, aren't they! And-
turn over — there you are — there's the football
team. Some of those chaps aren't any bigger
than I am, or you, either. Good looking uniforms,
aren't they! Say, dad gave me a lecture on not
thinking I was going there to just play football.
Fathers are awfully funny sometimes ! :

" You bet! I wonder — I wonder — would you
mind if we tore out a couple of these pictures be-
fore he sees it! I'm afraid he might think there
was too much in it about athletics."

11 No, tear away! Here, I'll do it. We'll take
the pictures of the teams out. How about the ath-
letic field! Better tear that out too, do you
think! "

" Well, maybe, just to be on the safe side, you
know. Don't throw 'em away, though. We might
want to look at them again. Let's go over to the
library where we can talk, Steve."

CHAPTEE II

OFF TO SCHOOL

POSSIBLY you are wondering why two boys, each
of whom was possessed of a perfectly good home
of his own, should select the Tannersville Public
Library as a place in which to converse. The an-
swer is that Steve's father and Tom's father were
in the same line of trade, wholesale lumber, and
had a few years before fallen out over some busi-
ness matter. Since that time the two men had
been at daggers drawn during office hours and only
coldly civil at other times. Steve was forbidden
to set foot in Tom's house and Tom was as strictly
prohibited from entering Steve's. Had the
fathers had their way at the beginning of the
quarrel the boys would have ceased then and there
to have anything to do with each other. But they
had been close friends ever since primary school
days and, while they reluctantly respected the
dictum as to visiting at each other's residences,
they had firmly refused to give up the friendship,
and their fathers had finally been forced to sanc-
tion what they could not prevent.

14 LEFT END EDWARDS

At the time this story opens, the quarrel be-
tween the two men, each a prominent and well-to-
do member of the community, still continued, but
its edge had been dulled by time. Both Mr. Ed-
wards and Mr. Hall took active parts in municipal
affairs and so were forced to meet often and to
even serve together on various committees. They
almost invariably took opposite sides on every
question, but they did not allow their personal
quarrel to interfere with their public duties.

The boys had at first found the condition of af-
fairs very irksome, but had eventually got used to
it. It was hard not to be able to run in and out
of each other's houses as they had done when they
had first known each other, but there were plenty
of opportunities to be together away from home
and they made the most of them and were' well-
nigh inseparable. Mr. Edwards had declared,
when announcing the fact in the preceding spring,
that Steve was to go to boarding school, that he
was sending the boy away to remove him from the
questionable association of Tom Hall. But Steve
gave little credence to that statement, for he knew
that secretly his father thought very well of Tom.
The real reason was that Steve had not been mak-
ing good progress at high school, owing princi-
pally to the fact that he gave too much time to

LEFT END EDWARDS 15

athletics and not enough to study. Mr. Edwards
concluded that at a boarding school Steve would
be under a stricter discipline and would profit by
it. Steve's mother had died many years before,
and his father, while perfectly able to command a
large army of employees, was rather helpless
when it came to exercising a proper authority over
one sixteen-year-old boy!

Naturally enough, Tom, when he had learned of
his chum's impending departure in the fall for
boarding school, began a vigorous campaign to
secure parental permission to accompany him.
Mrs. Hall had soon yielded, but Mr. Hall had held
out stubbornly until almost the last moment. " I
guess,' he had said more than once, " you see
enough of that Edwards boy without going off to
the same boarding school with him ! If you want
to go to some other school I'll consider it, Tom, but
I'm blessed if I'll have you tagging after Steve
Edwards the way you propose ! ' ' But in the end
he, too, capitulated, though with ill-grace, and
for a week there were not two busier persons in
all Tannersville than Steve and Tom. Steve had
taken time by the forelock and had accumulated
most of the necessary outfit, but Tom had to at-
tend to all his wants in six weekdays, and there
was much scurrying around the shops by the two

16 LEFT END EDWARDS

lads, much hurry and worry and bustle in the
Hall mansion. You had to take with you such a
lot of silly truck, you see ! Or, at least, that is the
way Tom put it. The catalogue informed them
that they must provide their own sheets, pillow-
cases, spreads, towels, napkins and laundry bags,
as well as take with them a knife, fork and spoon
each. Steve sarcastically wondered if the school
gave them beds to sleep in! The situation was
further complicated by the eleventh-hour discov-
ery on the part of Mrs. Hall that Tom's clothing,
while quite good enough for Tannersville, would
never do for Brimfield Academy, and poor Tom
had to be fitted to new suits of clothes and shoes
and hats and various other articles of apparel.

They were to leave early Monday morning, for
in that way they could reach Brimfield before
dark. Both boys, who had set their hearts on a
night in a sleeping-car, with all its exciting possi-
bilities, begged to be allowed to make their start
Monday evening, which would allow them to arrive
at school Tuesday forenoon in plenty of time.
But neither Steve's father nor Tom's would listen
to the suggestion.

" Then I'll get there a whole day before school
opens," grumbled Tom, " and have to stay there
all alone Monday night."

LEFT END EDWAEDS 17

" It won't hurt you a bit,7 replied Mr. Hall.
' l And the catalogue says that students will be re-
ceived any time after Monday noon. I'm not go-
ing to have you two reckless youngsters travelling
around the country together at night. '

Tom, recognising the inevitable, said no
more.

There was a somewhat awkward ten minutes at
the station, for both Mr. Edwards and Mr. Hall,
the latter accompanied by his wife, went down to
see the boys off. The men nodded coldly to each
other and then the odd situation of two boys who
were to travel together side by side taking leave of
their parents at opposite ends of the same car de-
veloped. Tannersville is not a large town and
those who were on the platform that morning
when the New York express pulled in understood
the dilemma and smiled over it. Steve and Tom
were both rather relieved when the good-byes
were over and the train was pulling out of the
station.

" Blamed foolishness,' muttered Steve as he
met Tom where their bags were piled on one of the
seats.

" Yes, don't they make you tired? ! ' agreed the
other. " Say, how much did you get?

Steve thrust his fingers into a waistcoat pocket

18 LEFT END EDWAEDS

and drew out a carefully folded and very crisp
ten-dollar bill, and Tom whistled.

" I only got seven," he said; " five from father
and two from mother. I guess that will do,
though. The only things we have to pay for are
dinner and getting across New York. Got your
ticket safe! "

Ensued then a breathless, panicky minute while
Steve searched pocket after pocket for the en-
velope which contained his transportation to
Brimfield, New York. The perspiration began to
stand out on his forehead, his eyes grew large and
round and his gaze set, Tom fidgetted mightily and
persons in nearby seats, sensing the tragedy,
grinned in heartless amusement. Then, at last,
the precious envelope came to light from the
depths of the very first pocket in which he had
searched and, with sighs of vast relief, the two
boys subsided into the seat. By that time Tan-
nersville was left behind and the great adventure
had begun !

There are lots of worse things in life than start-
ing off to school for the first time when you have
someone with you to share your pleasant anticipa-
tions and direful forebodings. It is an exciting
experience, I can tell you! The feeling of being
cast on your own resources is at once blissfully

LEFT END EDWAEDS 19

uplifting and breathtakingly fearsome. Suppose
they lost their way in New York? Suppose they
were robbed of their tickets or their pocket money!
You were always hearing about folks being robbed
on trains, while, as for New York, why, every fel-
low knew that it was simply a den of iniquity!
Or suppose the train was wrecked! It was Tom
who supplied most of these direful contingencies
and Steve who carelessly — or so it seemed — dis-
posed of them.

66 If we lost our way we'd ask a policeman/ ' he
said. i ' And if anyone pinched our money or our
tickets we'd just telegraph home to the folks and
wait until we heard from them.'

" Where 'd we wait! " asked Tom with great
interest.

"Hotel."

" They wouldn't let us in unless we had money,
would they! Tom objected. " Maybe we could
find the United States consul."

" That's only when you're abroad," corrected
Steve scathingly. " There aren't any United
States consuls in the United States, you silly
chump! "

" I should think there ought to be," Tom re-
plied uneasily. " What time do we get to New
York! "

, \

20 LEFT END.EDWABDS

" Two thirty-five, if we're on time. We ought
to be. This is a peach of a train ; one of the best
on the road. Bet you she's making a mile a min-
ute right now.'

" Bet you she isn't! "

" Bet you she is! I'll ask the conductor."

That gentleman was approaching, and as they
yielded their tickets to be punched Steve put the
question. The conductor leaned down and took a
glance at the flying landscape. " About forty-
five miles an hour, I guess. That fast enough for
you, boys! "

" Sure," replied Tom. " But he said we were
going a mile a minute. ' '

" No, we don't make better than fifty anywhere.
You in a hurry, are you? "

66 Only for dinner,' laughed Steve. " Where
do we get dinner, sir?

" There's a dining-car on now," was the reply.
" Or you can get out at Phillipsburg at twelve-
twenty-three and get something at the lunch
counter. We stop there five minutes.'

" Me for the dining-car," declared Steve when
the conductor had moved on. " What time Is it
now, I wonder."

It was only a very few minutes after eight, the
discovery of which fact occasioned both surprise

LEFT END EDWARDS 21

and dismay. " Seems a Sy though it ought to be
pretty nearly noon, doesn't it! ' asked Tom.

" Yes. What time did you have breakfast? I
had mine at half-past six.'

" Me too. Let's go through the train and see
if we can find some apples or popcorn or some-
thing. ' '

The trainboy was discovered in a corner of the
smoking-car and they purchased apples, chocolate
caramels and salted peanuts, as well as two hu-
morous weeklies, and found a seat in the car and
settled down to business. They were both fright-
fully hungry, since excitement had prevented full
justice to breakfasts. It was horribly smoky in
that car, but Steve declared that he liked it, and
Tom, although his eyes were soon smarting pain-
fully, pretended that he did too.

" I suppose we'll have to smoke at school," said
Tom without enthusiasm.

Steve considered the question a moment. " I
don't believe we will unless we want to,' he re-
plied at last. " We can say it's because we're in
training, you know. They don't allow you to
smoke when you're trying for the football team or
anything like that.'

Tom sighed his relief. " It makes me horribly
squirmy," he said. " I thought, though, that if

22 LEFT END EDWARDS

all the fellows did it, you know, I'd better, too. In
all the stories about boarding schools I've ever
read, the fellows smoke on the sly and get found
out. Don't see much fun in that, though, do
you? "

" No.' Steve devoured the last of his apple tf
and started on the peanuts. " I don't believe
those stories very well, anyway. There's always
a goody-goody hero that gets suspected of some-
thing he didn't do and knows who really did it all
the time and won't tell. And then he saves an-
other fellow from drowning or something and it
turns out that it was that fellow who did it, you
know, and he goes and fesses up to the principal
and the principal asks the hero's pardon in class
and the captain of the football team comes to him
and begs him to play quarterback or something,
which he does, and the school wins its big game
because the hero gets the ball and runs the length
of the field with it and scores a touchdown. I
guess boarding school isn't really very much like
that, Tom. I guess there's a heap more hard
work to it than those fellows who write the stories
tell you about. Anyway, we'll soon find out.5

11 Still, I guess some of those things do happen
'sometimes," said Tom a trifle wistfully, unwill-
ing to relinquish the story-book romance. " Fel-

LEFT END EDWARDS 23

lows do get wrongly accused of — of things, and
they do rescue other fellows from drowning-
sometimes, and fellows do win football games.
I'd like to do that and be a hero! "

' ' Sure ! So would I. Bet you, though, there
won't be any of that kind of stuff at Brimfield.
I dare say we'll wish ourselves out of it long be-
fore Christmas! If anyone wrongly accuses me
of anything you can bet I'll make a kick. You
won't see me getting punished for what some other
fellow's done. That's all right in stories, but not
for yours truly ! Not a bit of it, Tom ! ' '

CHAPTER III

STOP THIEF!

THEY descended on the dining-car at twelve o 'clock
promptly, being unable to remain away any longer,
and gave an excellent imitation of a visitation of
locusts performing their well-known devastating
act. If any two travellers by land or sea ever re-
ceived their money's worth in food it was Steve
and Tom. They took the menu card and briskly
demanded everything in order, and when, having
finished their dessert, they made the discovery
that a criminally careless waiter had deprived
them of pineapple sherbert, they immediately and
indignantly saw to it that the omission was cor-
rected. Afterwards, groaning with happiness and
repletion, they dragged themselves back to their
own car and subsided on the seat in beatific si-
lence.

An hour later they came out of their stupor to
stare eagerly, excitedly out at the indications of
the approaching metropolis. Meadows strung
with enormous and glaring signboards gave place
to towns and presently there came a pause at a

LEFT END EDWAKDS 25

station where other trains whisked in and out with
amazing frequency. Then on again, and they
were suddenly dipping into a tunnel, conscious of
an unpleasant pressure against their eardrums.
Tom's expression of bewildered alarm moved a
kind-hearted neighbour across the car aisle to lean
over and explain smilingly that the train was now
running under the river, a piece of information
but little calculated to remove Tom's fears had he
given the slightest credence to it, which he didn't.

" I guess,' he muttered resentfully close to
Steve's ear, " he thinks we're a couple of * green-
ies ' for fair ! Going under a river ! ' '

And then, almost before Tom's indignation had
given way again to alarm, the tunnel was left be-
hind and they were in New York at last, a dimly-
lighted, subterranean New York filled with hurry-
ing crowds, bustle, noise, confusion and importu-
nate porters. Even though the two boys emerged
to the platform in a somewhat dazed condition,
they had no intention of wasting perfectly good
pocket money having their bags carried for them,
and so started out to find the office of the baggage
transfer company quite bravely. For a minute
they had only to follow the hurrying throng of
fellow-passengers, but soon this throng divided
and went separate ways and Steve and Tom, rest-

26 LEFT END EDWARDS

ing their arms by depositing their hand luggage
on the lower step of an apparently interminable
flight of broad stairs, looked about for someone to
question. But everyone seemed in a terrible
hurry, and when, at last, Steve ventured to put
a query to a benevolent-looking elderly gentleman
who clutched a tightly-rolled umbrella in one hand
and an afternoon paper in the other, he almost
had his head bitten off! In the end, they pro-
ceeded up the stairway and at last came upon a
returning porter who gave them their direction.
By the time they had reached the transfer com-
pany's office they had walked so far that Tom won-
dered whether most of the city was not contained
inside the station!

Presently, though, he saw that it wasn't. For
they found themselves standing outside the termi-
nal on a street that stretched, apparently, for
millions of miles in each direction ! They had re-
ceived detailed advice from the man in the trans-
fer company's office as to the best method of reach-
ing the Grand Central Station, and the directions
had sounded quite easy to follow. But now the
feat didn't look so simple, for the man had told
them to take a car going in a certain direction and
there wasn't a car in sight ! Moreover, when Tern
came to look for car-tracks there weren't any!

LEFT END EDWARDS 27

He pointed out the fact to Steve, and Steve, at first
a bit dismayed, at last shrugged Ms shoulders and
observed his chum pityingly.

" You don't suppose all the cars in this town
run on tracks, do you? ' he asked.

" What do they run on then? "

' i Why — er — you wait and see ! :

" That's all right, but it's almost three o'clock
and our train goes from the other station at a
quarter-past, and '

" Well, we'll ask someone, " said Steve. But,
oddly enough, there was no one to ask. For a
town as large as New York that block of street
was strangely deserted. A team or two passed
and an elderly woman crept by on the opposite
sidewalk, but no one came near them. Finally
Steve muttered :

' ' Looks to me as if we were on the wrong street.
Maybe there are two doors to this old station,
Tom."

" Of course there are! Let's walk down to
that corner. There goes a car now ! ' ' And Tom, '
as though his future happiness depended on catch-
ing that particular car, seized his bag and started
down the street at a run. Steve followed more
leisurely, and when he reached the corner Tom
TV as talking to a policeman. "It was all very sim-

28 LEFT END EDWAEDS

pie. They had made the mistake of leaving the
terminal by a wrong exit and had emerged on to a
cross-town street. After that it was easy. A car
lumbered up, the policeman stopped it for them,
they climbed aboard, were hurled half the length
of the aisle and fell into seats. A few minutes la-
ter they transferred to a cross-town line without
misadventure.

11 They certainly make you step lively in this
town,' panted Tom, clutching a strap and nar-
rowly avoiding a seat in the lap of a very stout
lady. " Glad I don't have to live here! :

Steve, however, whose eyes were darting hither
and thither in a desperate effort to lose none of the
sights, was more favourably disposed toward the
city. Even when, owing to a blockade at one of
the street intersections, it became evident that
they could not possibly make the three-fifteen train
to Brimfield, Steve refused to be troubled.
"Maybe," he said, "we'll have time to walk
around a bit and see something. Say we do it,
anyway, Tom?

" Mo, sir, this place is too blamed big! First
thing we'd know we'd be lost for fair and never
would get to Brimfield. When I get to that sta-
tion I'm going to sit down and stay there! :

When they did reach it the three-fifteen train

LEFT END EDWAKDS 29

had been gone nearly ten minutes, and inquiry at
a window labelled " Information " elicited the
announcement that the next train available for
them would not leave until three-fifty-eight, since
Brimfield, it seemed, was not a sufficiently impor-
tant station to be served by all the trains.

66 That gives us half an hour," said Steve eag-
erly. " Let's check our bags somewhere and go
out and look around."

" Yes, and get lost ! No, sir, not for mine ! "
" Oh, don't be such a scarecrow! Come on! :
But Tom was obdurate. " You go if you want
to,' he said, " but I'm going to sit down right
here and wait. You can leave your bag and I'll
look after it. Onjy, if you don't get back by a
quarter to four I'm going to the train, and I'll take
your bag with me.'

' i All right. I just want to go out front awhile.
I'll be back in ten minutes. You stay here. And
keep your eye on the bags, Tom. I guess there's
a lot of sneak-thieves around here.' And Steve
looked about him suspiciously, his glance finally
failing on Tom's left-hand neighbour, a youth of
perhaps nineteen years upon whose good-looking
face rested an amused smile. Instantly, however,
e paper he was holding was raised to hide his
iV.ee, and Steve frowned. The fellow was, thought

30 LEFT END EDWARDS

Steve, altogether too well-dressed and slick-look-
ing to be honest, and that smile disturbed him.
He leaned down and whispered in Tom's ear :

' * Look out for the fellow next to you ! I think
he's a crook! :

Tom turned an alarmed glance to his left and a
disturbed one on Steve. " I- -I guess," he said
with elaborate carelessness, " I'll sit over there
where it's lighter." Whereupon he gathered the
bags up and literally fled across the waiting-room,
Steve at his heels. In his new location, out of
sight of the suspected youth, he said hoarsely: " I
reckon he was a pickpocket, don't you?

11 You can't tell,' ' responded Steve, shaking his
head knowingly. "Anyway, you want to keep an
eye on those bags every minute. I'll be right back,
though. Want to see my paper 1 And Steve
handed an Evening Sun, purchased on the car, to
his chum and wound his way through the throng
toward the entrance.

Left to himself, Tom looked at the clock and say/
that the hour was three-thirty-two, glanced appre-
hensively about him in search of possible male-
factors, dragged the bags closer to his feet and
unfolded the paper. But he couldn't find much
to interest him in it. Besides, he had to look at
the clock every few minutes, and whenever a man

LEFT END EDWARDS 31

in a uniform appeared with a megaphone and an-
nounced the impending departure of a train Tom
had heart disease, seized both bags and crouched
readv for instant flight until he was assured that

the word " Brirnfield " was not among the list of
stations enunciated through the trumpet. It was
after he had sunk back with a sigh of relief on
finding that a train for " Pittsburgh, Chicago and
the West " was not his that he discovered that an
empty seat at his right had been occupied during
his strained interest in the announcer. Glancing
around he saw that the occupant was the well-
dressed, good-looking youth who had been seated
next to him before. The youth seemed very in-
terested in the paper he was reading, his gaze be-
ing apparently fixed on a column headed " Tiger's
Football Players Keport," but Tom refused to be
deceived. Only the fact that a grey-coated station
policeman was standing within hail kept him from
a second flight. Steve, he reflected nervously
while he wound both feet around the bags, would
return in a minute or two and then they could go
to the train. Tom devoutly wished himself and
the bags there now. Once he was conscious of
the fact that the youth beside him was glancing his
way, but he pretended not to be aware of it. Then
his neighbour spoke.

32 LEFT END EDWAEDS

" Princeton ought to have a pretty good team
this year/' he observed genially. Torn, his heart
in his mouth, nodded.

11 Y-yes," he said.

" Interested in football? " went on the other.
Tom dared a quick glance at the smiling face and
shook his head.

" No, thank you. I mean — yes, a little.'7 He
didn't want to talk because he had read that con-
fidence men always engaged their victims in con-
versation before selling them counterfeit money
or leading them to gamble away their savings.
Tom's eyes darted anxiously about in search of
Steve and he wondered how soon the smooth-
voiced stranger would call him by name or ask
after the folks in Tannersville. He hadn't long
to wait!

" It's a great game," pursued the other. Then,
after a short pause: " Say, I've met you before,
haven't II Your face looks familiar.'

' ' No, ' ' answered Tom shortly, digging his feet
convulsively against the bulging sides of the bags
on the floor.

" My mistake, then. I thought perhaps you
were from Tannersville, Pennsylvania."

•/

Tom almost jumped, although he had been ex-
pecting some such remark. It was, he reflected

LEFT END EDWAKDS 33

agitatedly, absolutely marvellous the way these
fellows learned things! In a moment the fellow
would tell him his name !

The fellow didn't, though. He only said:
" Tannersville is a fine town. Ever been there?

Tom shook his head energetically. " Never! "
he fibbed.

" Oh! : The confidence-man — for Tom had
fully decided that such he was — seemed disap-
pointed. But he wasn't discouraged. " Which
way are you travelling! : ' he asked.

Tom did a lot of thinking then in a fragment of
a minute.

11 Philadelphia," he blurted.

" Philadelphia ! Why, say, you're in the wrong
station. You ought to go to the Pennsylvania
Terminal. I guess you're a stranger here, eh?
Tell you what I'll do. You come with me and I'll
put you on a car that'll take you right there.'

" I — I've got to wait for a friend,' muttered
Tom desperately, sending an appealing glance
toward the policeman who had now begun to saun-
ter slowly away.

' < That so ? Well ' ' The other got up with

a glance at the clock and reached down for his
suit-case. Tom's gaze followed the direction of
that hand closely. It was, he thought, odd that a

34 LEFT END EDWARDS

confidence-man should carry a suit-case, but that
might be only an attempt to avert suspicion. The
bag held the inscription " A. L. M., Orange, N. J.'
Probably the bag had been stolen. Tom fixed that
inscription firmly in his mind. " I'll have to be
going," said " A. L. M." " Sorry I can't be of
assistance to you, kid. I thought that maybe if
you were going my way, out to Brimfield, I could
give you a hand with your bags.'

Tom gasped! How did he know about Brim-
field?

" Thanks," he muttered. " I— I'll get on all
right.' Standing there in front of him "A. L.
M.' looked very youthful to be such a deep-dyed
villain and Tom felt a bit sorry for him. But the
villain was smiling broadly and, as it seemed to
Tom, a trifle mockingly.

" Better keep a sharp lookout for crooks,' ' ad-
vised the other. " There are lots of 'em about
here. See that old chap over there with the basket
of fruit in his lap?' The stranger moderated
his voice and leaned toward Tom. Tom, turning
his head a trifle to follow the other's gaze, felt one
of the bags between his feet move and made a grab
toward it. But the stranger had not, apparently,
touched it, unless with a foot. " That," he was
saying, " is Four-Fingered Phillips, one of the

LEFT END EDWABDS 35

cleverest confidence-men in New York. Well, so
long! "

The other moved away, walking nonchalantly
past the station policeman who had now wandered
back to his post. Tom held his breath. But the
policeman, although he undoubtedly followed the
youth with his gaze for a moment, failed to act,
and Tom was not a little relieved. Even if the
fellow was a crook he seemed an awfully decent
sort and Tom was glad he hadn't been arrested.

It was getting perilously near a quarter to four
now and still Steve had not returned. Tom
watched the long hand crawl tbward the figure
IX, saw it reach it and pass. He would, he de-
cided then, give Steve another five minutes. His
gaze fell on " Four-Fingered Phillips " and he
viewed that gentleman perplexedly. He didn't
look in the least like a confidence-man. He ap-
peared to be about sixty years of age, eminently
respectable and slightly infirm. He clutched a
basket of fruit and an ivory-headed cane and
seemed quite oblivious to everything about him.
New York, reflected Tom, with something like a
shudder, must be a terribly wicked place! And
then, while he was still striving to discern signs of
depravity under the gentle and kindly exterior of
the elderly confidence-man, a young woman, lead-

36 LEFT END EDWARDS

ing a little boy of some three or four years of age
and bearing many bundles, hurried up to " Four-
Fingered Phillips,' ' spoke, helped him to his feet
and guided him away toward the train-shed. Tom
sighed. It was too much for him ! Of course he
had read of female accomplices, but it .didn't seem
that a four-year-old child could be a part of the
game! For the first time he wondered whether
"A. L. M.," perhaps chagrined at his failure to
decoy Tom to some secret lair, had deceived him
about " Four-Fingered Phillips :M

Then it was ten minutes to four, good measure,
and Tom, in a sudden panic, seized his bags, gazed
about him despairingly and made for the train-
shed. He had given Steve fair warning, he told
himself, and now he could just fend for himself.
But his steps got slower and slower as he ap-
proached the gate and when he reached it he set
the bags down, got his ticket out and waited. Af-
ter all, it would be a pretty mean trick to leave
Steve. At least, he'd wait there until the last mo-
ment. The minutes passed and the hands on the
clock further along the barrier crept nearer and
nearer to the time set for the departure of the
Brimfield accommodation. Tom wondered when
the next train after this one would leave.

66 Going on this train, son? " asked the gateman.

LEFT END EDWAKDS 37

" Yes," answered Tom, and took a step toward
the gate. Then he stopped and shook his head.
" No, I guess not,' he muttered. " When does
the next one go, sir? :

" Where to? ' asked the gateman, punching the
ticket of a late arrival.

"Brimfield."

11 Four-twelve.' The gate closed and the mat-
ter was irrevocably settled. Tom took his bags
and hurried back to the waiting-room and found
his place again. No Steve was in sight!

" I'll give him ten minutes," said Tom savagely.
" Then I'll go. And — and I won't come back the
next time ! ' '

And then, just as the clock announced the hour
Steve appeared, a little flushed and breathless, but
smiling broadly.

t i Gee, you ought to have been with me, Tom ! :
he said excitedly. " There was a peach of a fire
just around in the next street ! Seven engines and
a hook-and-ladder and hundreds of hose-carts and
one of those water-towers ! And most of the en-
gines were automobiles, Tom ! It was corking ! :

" Maybe it was," replied Tom coldly. "I'm
going to Brimfield on the four-twelve. What you
going to do? Find another fire?

" Why, no. When I saw I'd lost that other

38 LEFT END EDWARDS

train I thought I might as well wait and see the
fire out. There's lots of time, anyway. We'll
have plenty of school before we get through with
it, Tom."

" That's all right," responded Tom bitterly,
" but you're way off if you think it's any fun for
me sitting around here and waiting for you while
you have a good time going to fires ! :

" You said you didn't want to go-

" Well, what if I did? " demanded Tom, work-
ing himself into a very respectable fit of anger.
" I didn't want to go. But that's no reason why
you should leave me alone for the rest of the day
to — to stave off robbers and thieves and confi-
dence-men and — and all ! :

" Oh, well, come on," said Steve. " We haven't
done anything but lose a train —

" We've lost two trains ! :

11 And the man says there's another at twelve
minutes after.'

" And we'll lose that if you stand here talking
much longer," declared Tom peevishly. " Take
up your bag and come along. There's only six or
seven minutes."

" Where is it! Haven't you got it? "

" Got what? "

" My bag," said Steve crossly.

LEFT END EDWARDS 39

" Isn't it staring you in the face? " asked Tom
disgustedly, indicating the suit-case against the
seat. " Are you blind? "

" That? That isn't mine. Where " Steve

looked at the bag in Tom's hand and then around
the floor. " Where's mine? '

1 ' What ! Tom was gazing in stupefied amaze-
ment at the bag between them.

On the end appeared the legend: "A. L. M.,
Orange, N. J."

CHAPTEE IV

OUT FOR BRIMFIELD!

JUST as the conductor, snapping his watch shut,
waved his hand to the engineer of the four-twelve
two boys hurried down the platform and, with the
assistance of a negro porter, climbed to the last
platform of the moving train. From there, much
out of breath, they entered, the car, pushed aside a
curtain and sank on to the seats of the smoking
compartment. And as he did so each set a suit-
case between his legs and the front of the seat in
a way that suggested that only over his dead body
could that bag be removed !

The first of the two, the one with his back to the
engine, was a nice-looking youth of fifteen — almost
sixteen, to be quite accurate — with a broad-shoul-
dered, slim-hipped body that spoke of the best of
physical condition. He had a pair of light-brown
eyes, a short straight nose, a nice mouth and a
rather sharp chin. His face was tanned, and
slightly freckled as well, and he was tall for his
age. His full name was Stephen Dana Edwards.

His companion was an inch shorter, a little heav-

LEFT END EDWABDS 41

er in build, although quite as well-conditioned
)hysically, and was lighter in colouring. His hair
pas several shades less dark than his friend's, al-
hough it, too, was brown, his eyes were grey and
Lncler the sunburn his skin was quite fair. His
ull name was Thomas Perrin Hall.

Good, healthy, frank-looking youths both of
hem under normal conditions, but at this present
loment very far from appearing at their best,
ilach face held an expression of gloom and resent-
lent; on Mr. Stephen Edwards' countenance sat
fhat might well be termed a scowl. And, after a
ainute, by which time the train had plunged into
he tunnel and the travellers had somewhat recov-
red their breaths, the latter young gentleman
pave voice to a remark which went well with his
xpression.

" I like the way you looked after it,' he said
dth deep sarcasm. Mr. Thomas Hall, returning
tie other's scowl, drummed with his heels on the
uit-case.

" Why didn't you stay and look after it your-
9lf 1 " he asked angrily. " It isn't my fault that
ou went off chasing after fire-engines."

" I didn't chase after fire-engines. You said
ou'd watch my bag and '

" I did watch it !"

42 LEFT END EDWARDS

6 i Oh, yes, fine ! Let someone pinch it right un-
der your eyes ! I notice you managed to keep your
own bag all right ! ' '

" Oh, dry up ! " growled Tom.

Silence ensued until a conductor appeared and
demanded tickets. Yielding their transportation,
the boys were informed that they were in a par-
lour car and must pay twenty-five cents apiece to
ride to Brimfield. Tom laid hold of his bag with
a sigh, but Steve unemotionally produced a quarter
and so Tom followed suit. When the conductor
had disappeared again through the curtain Steve
said:

' ' Why didn't they tell us this was a parlour car?
How were we to know?

" They just wanted our money, I suppose,' ' re-
plied Tom bitterly. ' ' Everybody in this place is
after your money. I wish I was home ! ;

"So do I,' agreed Steve gloomily. More si-
lence then, until,

" I don't see how he ever did it," remarked
Tom. " I had both bags between my feet. He
was certainly slick. I suppose when he told me to
look at ' Four-Fingered Phillips ' I sort of turned
around and switched my legs away from the bags.
But he must have been mighty quick. '

" Of course he was quick," said Steve con-

LEFT END EDWARDS 43

temptuously. " I warned yon against that fel-
low."

" That's all right, but I'll bet he'd have played
the same trick if it had been you instead of me,"
replied Tom warmly.

" I '11 bet he wouldn't! "

' * All right ! : Tom shrugged his shoulders
and looked out the window. They had the com-
partment to themselves, which, in view of the re-
marks which were passed, was fortunate.

" It isn't all right, though,' pursued Steve.
" That bag had all my things in it: pajamas,
brushes and comb and collars and handkerchiefs
and — and everything! I'd like to know what I'm
going to sleep in! "

" I dare say we'll get our trunks to-night," said
Tom soothingly. " If we don't you can have my
pajamas.'

" What '11 you wear? " asked Steve more gra-
ciously.

" Anything. I don't mind. I say, Steve, let's
see what's in the bag he left! "

" Would you? " asked Steve doubtfully.

" Why not? He's got yours, hasn't he? "

Steve lifted the suit-case to the seat beside him
and tried the catch. It was not locked and opened
readily. There wasn't a great deal in it: a pair

44 LEFT END EDWARDS

of lavender pajamas at which Steve sniffed sarcas-
tically, a travelling case fitted with inexpensive
brushes and things and marked " A. L. M.," a
pair of slippers, a magazine, a soiled collar, one
clean handkerchief and a grey flannel cap with a
red B sewed on the front above the visor.

" Wonder whose they are,' mused Tom, as
Steve spread the trousers of the pajamas out and
viewed them dubiously. They were several sizes
two large for Steve, but they might do if his trunk
didn't come .in time. " I suppose that fellow
swiped this bag, found there wasn't anything valu-
able in it and thought he'd swap it for another.'

" Maybe there was something valuable in it
when he got it," said Steve. He tossed the things
back and closed it again. "It's a pretty good
suit-case; better than mine. Do you suppose it
would do any good to advertise ?

" I don't suppose so. Besides, that cop said
that he'd have them search the pawnshops. If
the police don't find it I guess an advertisement
wouldn't do any good, Steve.'

" Well, I suppose there's no use crying over
spilled milk," replied the other, setting the suit-
case back in its place. " After all I can buy new
things for five dollars or so and I guess father will
send rue the money when I tell him about it. ' '

LEFT END EDWARDS 45

Tom frowned thoughtfully. Finally, " Say,
Steve, if you won't tell him how it happened I'll
pay for what you lost myself."

"What for!"

" I — I'd rather he didn't know, that's
all."

' i Oh ! Well, I won 't tell him you had anything
to do with it, Tom. You didn't, either," he added
after a moment. " It wasn't your fault, Tom. It
— it would have happened to me just the same way,
I '11 bet."

" You could just say that the bag was stolen,
couldn't you! ' asked Tom more cheerfully. " I
mean you needn't go into particulars, you know.
It doesn't really matter how it happened as long as
it did happen. ' '

" No, of course not. I'll just say it was stolen
while we were waiting for the train. I guess five
dollars will be enough. Let's see. Pajamas cost
two and a half, brushes '

" You getting off at Brimfield, gentlemen? :
asked the porter, putting his head through the
curtains and waving a brush at them.

" Yes. Are we there! " asked Tom startledly.

' ' Pretty near, sir. Want me to brush you off,
sir? "

" I guess so.' By the time that ceremony had

46 LEFT END EDWARDS

been impressively performed and two dimes had
changed places from the boys' pockets to the por-
ter's, the train was slowing down for the station.
A moment later they had alighted and were look-
ing about them.

The station was small and attractive, being of
stone and almost covered with vines, and beyond
it, across the platform, several carriages were re-
ceiving passengers. A man in a long and shabby
coat accosted them.

" Carriage, boys I Going up to the school! "
" Yes," replied Steve. " How much! "
" Twenty-five cents apiece. Any trunks! "
" Two. Can you take them up with us! "
" I'll have 'em up there in half an hour. Just
you give me the checks."

" The checks," murmured Steve, a look of un-
easiness coming to his face.

" Haven't you got them! " asked Tom anx-
iously.

Steve nodded. " I've got them all right," he
said grimly, " but these are the transfer com-
pany's checks. We5*— we forgot to get new ones at
the station! "

" Thunder! " said Tom disgustedly. " Now
what '11 we do! "

" I'll look after it, gentlemen," said the driver

LEFT END EDWARDS 47

comfortingly. " I'll have the agent telegraph the
numbers back and they'll send 'em right along.
It'll cost about half a dollar."

" Will we get them to-night! " asked
Steve.

u You might. I wouldn't like to promise,
though. Anyway, they'll be along first thing in
the morning. Thank you, sir. Eight this way to
the carriage. I'll look after the bags.'

" Not mine, you won't," replied Tom grimly,
tightening his clasp on it. "I wouldn't trust the
President of the United States with this bag.
Anyway," he added as he followed Steve and the
driver across the platform to a ricketty convey-
ance, ' * not if he lived in New York ! :

By that time all the other carriages had rolled
away, and while they waited for their driver to ar-
range with the station agent about the trunks they
examined their surroundings. There wasn't much
to see. The station was at the end of a well-
shaded street, and beyond, across the right of way,

' A

the country seemed to begin. There were one or
two houses within sight, set back amidst trees, and
at the summit of a low hill the wheel of a windmill
was clattering merrily. There were many hills in
sight, all prettily wooded, and, on the whole, Brim-
field looked attractive. They searched vainly for

48 LEFT END EDWARDS

a glimpse of the school buildings, and the driver,
returning just then, explained in reply to their in-
quiry, that the school was nearly a mile
away.

" You could have seen it from the train if you'd
been looking,' he added. " It's about a quarter
of a mile from the track on the further side there.
Get-ap, Abe Lincoln! "

Their way led down the straight and shaded
street which presently began to show houses on
either side, houses set in small gardens still aflame
with autumn flowers and divided from the road by
neat hedges or vine-clad fences. Then there were
a few stores clustering about the intersection of
the present street and one running at right angles
with it, and a post-office and a fire-house and a di-
minutive town hall. The old horse turned to the
right here and ambled westward.

" You boys are sort of late," observed the
driver conversationally.

" Why, school doesn't begin until to-morrow,
does it? " asked Tom.

' t No. I meant you was late for to-day. About
twenty boys came this afternoon, most of 'em on
the train before this one. There was Prouty and
Newhall and Miller and a lot of 'em. You're new
boys, though, ain't you? "

LEFT END EDWARDS 49

They acknowledged it and the driver nodded.

1 i Thought I didn't remember your faces. I got
a good memory for faces, I have. Well, you're
coming to a fine school, boys, a fine school! I
guess there ain't another like it in the country. I
been driving back and forth for nigh on twelve
years and I know it pretty well now. Know lots
o' the boys, too. Nice fellers, they be. Always
have a good word for me. Generous, they be, too.
Always handin' me a tip and thinkin' nothing of
it."

Steve nudged Tom with his elbow. " That's
fine," he said. " You must be pretty rich by

now."

"Rich? Me rich?" The driver shook his
head sorrowfully. " No, sir, there ain't much
chance o' gettin' rich at this business, what with
the high cost of feed and all. No, gentlemen, I'm
a poor man and I don't never expect to be aught
else. Get-ap, Abe Lincoln ! ' '

The village, or what there was of it, had been
left behind now and the road was winding slightly
uphill through woodland. The sun was slanting
into their faces, casting long shadows. Now and
then a gate and the beginning of a well-kept drive-
way suggested houses set out of sight on the
wooded knolls about them. The carriage crossed

50 LEFT END EDWAEDS

the railroad track and the driver pointed ahead of
iiira with his whip.

" There's the school," he said; and the boys
craned forward to see.

" Gee, but ain't it big! " muttered Steve.

CHAPTER V

NUMBER 12 BILLINGS

THE woods had given way to open fields, and they
could follow with their eyes the course of the road
ahead as it turned to the left and ran, almost
parallel to the railroad, past where a pair of stone
gate-posts guarded the entrance to the Academy.
From the gate a drive went winding upward, hid-
den now and then by trees and shrubs, to where,
at the crest of a hill, a half-dozen buildings looked
down upon them with numberless windows.

" That's Main Hall," said Tom, " the big one
in the centre. I remember it in the catalogue.'

" And that's the gym at this end," added Steve.
" It's a pretty good looking place, isn't it?
What's the building where the tall chimney is,
driver? "

« Torrence. There's rooms upstairs and a din-
ing-room on the first floor. That chimney's from
the kitchen at the back. Then the building in the
middle's Main Hall, as they call it. That was the
original building. I remember when there wasn't
any others. The one to the left of it's Hensey

52 LEFT END EDWARDS

Hall. The fellows that lives there are called
' Chickens,' " chuckled the man. " Then there's
Billings beyond Hensey, and The Cottage, where
Mr. Fernald lives, is just around the corner, like.
You can see the porch of it if you look. '

But they couldn't, for at that moment the car-
riage turned to enter the gate and their view was
cut off by a group of yellowing beeches.

Presently the carriage stopped in front of a
broad flight of stone steps and the boys climbed
out.

" Fifty cents, gentlemen," said the driver as he
lifted the bags out. " Thank you, sir. Thank
you, sir! I'll have your trunks up first thing in
the morning. Just walk right in through the door
and you'll find the office on your right. They'll
look after you there. Much obliged, gentlemen.
Any time you want a rig or anything you telephone
to Jimmy Hoskins. That 'sine. Good-night, gen-
tlemen, and good luck to you ! :

Steve had contributed an extra quarter, which
doubtless accounted for Mr. Hoskins' extreme af-
fability. Bags in hand they climbed the well-worn
granite steps and entered a dim, unlighted corri-
dor. An open door on the right revealed a room
divided by a railing, in front of which were a half-
dozen wooden chairs and beyond which were two

LEFT END EDWAE0S 53

desks, some filing cabinets, a book-case, a letter-
press, some chairs and one small, middle-aged man
with a shining bald head which was raised inquir-
ingly as Steve led the way to the railing.

" How do you do, boys," greeted the sole occu-
pant of the office in a thin, high voice. " What
are the names, please?' As he spoke he took a
card from a pile in front of him and dipped a pen
in the ink-well.

" Stephen D. Edwards, sir.'

11 Full name, please.'

" Stephen Dana.'

66 Very good. Place of residence? "

" Tannersville, Pennsylvania.'

" A wonderful state, Pennsylvania. Parents'
names, please.'

" Charles L. Edwards. My mother isn't liv-
ing.'

" Tut, tut, tut! " said the school secretary re-
gretfully and sympathetically. ' 6 A great misfor-
tune, Edwards. Now, you are entering by certifi-
cate? "

' ' Yes, sir, from the Tannersville High School. ' '

" And your age? "

li Fifteen; sixteen in " ^

" Fifteen will do, thank you.' He drew out a
drawer in a small cabinet set at the left of the

54 LEFT END EDWARDS

broad-topped desk and ran his fingers over the in-
dexed cards within it, finally extracting one and
laying it very exactly above the one on which he
had been setting down the information supplied by
Steve. For a moment he silently compared the
two. Then he nodded with much satisfaction.
" Quite so, quite so,' he said. " You will room
in Billings Hall, Number 12, Edwards. You are
provided with linen and other articles required?

" Yes, sir, but my trunk hasn't got here yet."

" Quite so. One moment." He drew a tele-
phone toward him, pressed a button on a little
black board set at one end of the desk, glanced at
the clock between the two broad windows and
spoke into the transmitter: " Mrs. C alder? Ed-
wards, 12 Billings, hasn't his trunk yet. Will you
have his room made up, please ? Eh? Quite so!
Yes, 12 Billings. Just a moment." He turned to
Steve. " May I ask whether the young gentle-
man with you is your room-mate, Hall?

66 Yes, sir."

" And his trunk, too, is missing?

" Yes, sir."

" Quite so. Yes, Mrs. Calder, both beds, please.
Thank you.' He hung up the receiver and
pushed the instrument aside. " That is all, Ed-
wards. I trust you will like the school. Should

LEFT END EDWAEDS 55

you want anything you may come to me here or
you will find your Hall Master, Mr. Daley, in
Number 8 Billings. Now, if you please,
Hall."

Tom, in turn, answered the little man's interro-
gations and at last they were free to seek their
room.

" Billings is the last dormitory to your right
as you leave this building," said the secretary,
i ' and you will find Number 12 on the second floor
at the further end. Supper is served at six
o'clock in the dining-room in Wendell, which is
the last building in the other direction. As we
have very few students with us yet, the supper
hour is shortened and it will greatly assist if you
will be prompt.'

The boys thanked him and sought their room.
A broad flagstone walk ran the length of the row
of six buildings and along this they strode past
the first building, which was Hensey, to the one
beyond. The dormitories were uniform in ma-
terial and style of architecture, each being three
stories in height, the first story of stone and the
others of red brick. The entrance was reached by
a single stone step, above which hung an electric
light just beginning to glow wanly in the early twi-
light. Inside, two slate steps led to the first floor

56 LEFT END EDWARDS

level and here a fireproof door divided the stair-
case well from the corridor. A flight of stone
stairs took them to the second floor. " Eooms 11
to 20 : ' was inscribed on the door and Steve pushed
it open and led the way down to a very clean, well-
lighted corridor to Number 12. There could be no
mistake about it, for the figures were very plainly
printed on the white door. Under the room num-
ber was a little metal frame which they afterwards
discovered was for the purpose of holding a card
bearing the names of the occupants. Steve
pushed the door open and, followed by Tom, en-
tered.

There was still enough light from the one broad
window to see by, but Steve found a switch near
the doorway and turned on the electricity. It was
a pretty forlorn looking place at first glance, but
doubtless the fact that the two beds were unmade,
that the window-seat was empty of cushions and
that the two slim chiffoniers and the desk-table
were bare had a good deal to do with that first im-
pression. The boys set their bags down and
looked about them rather dejectedly. Finally,

" I suppose when we get our things around it'll
look different," murmured Tom.

Steve grunted and tried a bed. " That feels
pretty good,'7 he said. " I hope Mrs. Thingama-

LEFT END EDWAKDS 57

bob won't forget to make it. Which side do you
want! "

" I don't care," replied Tom. " There isn't
any difference, I guess.'

There didn't appear to be. The door was at the
right as you entered, and beside it was a good-
sized closet. The room was about fifteen feet
long, from closet to window, by some twelve feet
wide. A brown grass rug filled most of the floor
space. The wainscoting, of clean white pine, as-
cended four feet and ended in a narrow ledge or
shelf, devised, as they afterwards discovered, to
hold photographs or small pictures which the rules
prohibited them from placing on the walls. The
walls were painted a light buff. The furniture
consisted of two single-width beds, two chiffoniers,
a study table and two straight-backed chairs. The
beds were against the opposite walls, the table in
the geometrical centre of the rug, the chiffoniers
occupied a portion of the remaining wall space on
each side and the two chairs were set between beds
and bureaus. The window was in a slight bay
and there was a six-foot seat below it. The room
was lighted by a two-lamp electrolier above the
table, but from one socket depended a green cord,
suggesting that a previous occupant had used a
drop light.

58 LEFT END EDWARDS

" I wonder/ said Steve, " where we are sup-
posed to wash.'

" Let's look for the bathroom/' suggested Tom.
So they returned to the silent corridor and pres-
ently discovered a commodious bath and wash-
room at the farther end. There were six set bowls
and four tubs there, and Torn thought it was
pretty fine. Steve, however, was in a mood to find
fault and he objected to the bathroom on several
different counts. For one thing, it was too far
away. Then, too, he didn't see how twenty fel-
lows were going to wash at six bowls. Tom, how-
ever, promptly demonstrated how one fellow could
do it by returning to Number 12 and bringing back
his wash-cloth. In his absence Steve had been
experimenting with the liquid soap apparatus with
which each bowl was supplied, and by the time
Tom got back was able to tell him why he didn't
approve of them! By the time they had both
cleaned up it was time to find the dining-hall, and
so, leaving the light burning in brazen dis-
regard of a notice under the switch, they clat-
tered downstairs again and set off for the other
end of the Eow, as the line of buildings was
called.

Two or three boys were standing on the steps
of Wendell when they reached it and they were

LEFT END EDWARDS 59

aware of tlieir frankly curious gaze as they
passed them. The dining-hall wasn't hard to
find, for its double doors faced them as they
entered the building. They left their caps on one
of the big racks outside and rather consciously
stepped inside the doorway. It was a huge room,
seemingly occupying the entire first floor of the
building, and held what appeared to be hundreds
of tables. Only four of them were occupied now,
two across the hall from the door and two at one
end. A boy of about seventeen or eighteen, wear-
ing an apron and carrying a tray of dishes, saw
them, and, setting down his burden, conducted
them to one of the tables nearby. There were al-
ready five boys at the board and they each and all
stared silently while Steve and Tom slid into their
chairs. The newcomers surmised that the}7, too,
were new boys, for, unlike the fellows at the next
table beyond, who were laughing and chatting
quite light-heartedly, they applied themselves
grimly and silently to their food and seemed to
view each other with deep distrust.

Steve and Tom, striving against the embarrass-
ment that held them, conversed together in whis-
pers. "It's a whaling big room," said Steve.
" Just like a hotel, isn't it? Wonder what we get
to eat."

60 LEFT END EDWARDS

" Bet you I'll eat it. whatever it is," replied

t/ / *

Tom. " I'm as hungry as a bear! ;

They weren't left long in doubt, for a second
waiter appeared very promptly and set their re-
past before them. There was cold roast beef, a
baked potato apiece, toasted muffins, milk and
cocoa, preserves and cookies. By the time they
were half through their supper most of the others
had finished and hurried away, removing much of
the embarrassment of the situation. Steve ven-
tured to stretch his legs comfortably under the
table and turn his head to regard the occupants
of the tables at the far end of the hall.

" I guess some of those are teachers," he said:
" Gee, but I'd like some more meat. Would you
ask for it? "

" I don't know. No one else did. These muf-
fins are bully, only there aren't enough of them. I
wonder if we '11 sit here regularly. '

' ' I don 't suppose so. We '11 probably be shoved
to one of those tables over there by the wall.
What time do you suppose they have breakfast?
We'll have to ask someone, I guess. Didn't he
say something about a Hall Master! :

"Yes, in Number 8. We'll stop and ask him
when we go back." There was a scraping of
chairs at the end of the room and several older

LEFT END EDWARDS 61

boys and two or three men came down the room
toward the door. Steve and Tom turned to look
and suddenly Tom seized his companion's arm.

" It's him! : he exclaimed.

66 Who! " asked Steve.

' ' Or — anyway it looks lots like him, ' ' continued
Tom breathlessly.

" Who looks like what? " demanded the other
impatiently.

1 i Why, the tall fellow just going out now ! See
him? He — he looks just like the fellow in the sta-
tion, the fellow who took your bag! The confi-
dence-man! "

CHAPTER VI

CLUES !

" THE confidence-man 1 " asked Steve incredu-
lously. " Oh, you run away and play, Tom!
What would he be doing here? Don't be a silly
goat! "

" Well, I suppose it isn't he, but — but he cer-
tainly looked just like him."

" Pshaw, I saw him too, didn't I? Well, that
chap doesn't look anything like him."

" Then you didn't look at the fellow I meant,"
returned Tom doggedly. " I- -I believe it was he,
Steve! "

" Oh, sure," said Steve sarcastically, " and the
fellow behind him is a famous second-story bur-
glar and the man with the flannel trousers on, who
looks like a teacher, is a popular murderer. He
escaped from Sing Sing this morning. And the
little man with the grey moustache-

11 That's all right,' replied Tom earnestly,
" but you'll find I'm right. It — it was he, I tell
you! There couldn't be two people as much
alike ! ' >

LEFT END EDWAKDS 63

" You'd better follow him then," laughed Steve,
" and ask him for my suit-case. Tell him I want
my pajamas, will you!

But Tom refused to treat the matter so lightly.
He was evidently quite convinced that he was
really on the trail of the thief, and all Steve's ridi-
cule failed to move him from that conviction. He
was too anxious to begin the search for the " con-
fidence-man : to do justice to the rest of his sup-
per, and when, at last, they were once more out-
side the building he gazed up and down the Kow
eagerly and was disappointed to find that neither
his quarry nor anyone else was visible in the half-
darkness. As they passed Torrence Hall, how-
ever, an open window on the first floor sent a flood
of light across the walk, and Tom, crossing the
narrow strip of turf that divided building from
pavement, raised himself on his tiptoes and looked
into the room. The next instant a face appeared
with disconcerting suddenness within a foot of his
own and the occupant of the room, who had been
reclining on the window-seat, enquiring abruptly :

" Well, fresh, what do you want? "

" N-Nothing, thanks," stammered Tom, with-
drawing quickly.

" Keep your head out of my window then," was

64 LEFT END EDWARDS

the indignant response, " or I'll come out there
and teach vou manners! "

Tom hurried away into the friendly darkness
and joined Steve, who was chuckling audibly.

" Did you find him, Tom I "

" No.' And then, as Steve continued to be
amused, Tom said with spirit; " I should think
you'd be enough interested to help a fellow in-
stead of giggling like a silly goat ! :

" Oh, I'm not a Sherlock Holmes,' replied
Steve airily. " Detecting isn't in my line."

" I should think you'd want to get your bag
back, though. I tell you that was really the fel-
low, Steve. Don't you believe me?

" Oh, yes! "

" You don't, though," said Tom bitterly. " All
right, then. You find your own bag. I'm
through. ' '

" Oh, don't say that! " begged Steve. " You
were doing so nicely. Look, there's a lighted win-
dow up there, Tom. If you get a ladder
now ' '

' ' Aw, cut it ! ! ' growled Tom.

Mr. Daley was in when they rapped at the door
of Number 8, on the first floor of Billings, and, ac-
cepting his invitation to enter, they found them-
selves in a very cosy, lamp-lighted, nicely fur-

LEFT END EDWAKDS 65

nislied study, from which a smaller room, evi-
dently a bedroom, opened. Mr. Horace Daley was
a young man with an embarrassed manner and a
desire to appear quite at ease. He shook hands
heartily, stumbled through a few words of wel-
come and arranged chairs for them. He asked a
good many questions, invariably remarking
" Fine! " with deep enthusiasm after every an-
swer and smiled jovially at all times. But the
boys saw that he was much more embarrassed than
they were and were secretly pleased and amused.
When at last the instructor had finished the usual
questions and was searching around in his mind
for more, Steve began asking for information.
Breakfast, responded Mr. Daley, was at seven-
thirty and ran half an hour. Chapel was at eight-
fifteen usually, although there would be none to-
morrow, as school did not officially begin until
noon. The first recitation hour was nine o'clock.
Dinner ran from twelve-thirty to one-thirty.
Eecitations began again at two and lasted until
half-past three. Supper was at six. Between
seven and eight the students were required to re-
main in their rooms and study, although on per-
mission of the House Master one could study in
the library instead. All lights were supposed to
be out at ten-thirty. And Mr. Daley hoped the

63 LEFT END EDWAEDS

boys would get on swimmingly and become very
fond of Brimfield.

" I — ah- -I want you to feel that I am ready
and anxious to help you at any time, fellows. I-
ah — want you to look on me as — ah — as a big
brother and come to me in your — ah — perplexities
and troubles, should you have any, and of course
there are bound to be — ah — little worries at first.
One has to accustom oneself to any — ah — new en-
vironment. Don't hesitate to call on me for ad-
vice or assistance. Sometimes an older head — ah
— you see what I mean?

Steve replied that they did and thanked him and,
with Tom crowding at his heels, withdrew.

" He's a funny dub," confided Steve, as they
made their way up to the next floor. " Guess he
must be new here. What does he teach, Tom?

" Modern languages, I think the catalogue said.
His first name is Horace.'

11 Horace! " Steve chuckled. " It ought to be
Percy. Hello, they've fixed the beds up.'

The room looked far more habitable when Steve
had switched the light on. Tom sighed luxuri-
ously as he stretched himself out on one of the
beds. " Bet you I'm going to do a tall line of
sleeping to-night, Steve," he said. " This bed
isn't half bad, either. '*

LEFT END EDWAEDS 67

" Well, don't put your feet all over the spread, "
replied Steve. " Get up out of that and unpack
your bag, you lazy duffer. ' '

11 I will in a minute. I'm tired. Say, what do
you think of this place, anyway, Steve?

66 The school! Oh, I guess it'll do. You can't
tell much about it yet, I suppose. I'm going to
snoop around to-morrow after breakfast and see
the sights. I suppose things will be a lot differ-
ent when the crowd comes. I guess we're the only
fellows in this dormitory to-night."

" Scared? " asked Tom, with a grin. " Ee-
niernber Horace is downstairs to protect
you.'

* * Huh ! Bet you he'd crawl under the bed if he
saw a burglar ! I wonder if the rest of the faculty
is like him. '

' ' Oh, I dare say he 's all right when you get to
know him,' said Tom, with a yawn. " Say, pull
down that window, Steve. It's getting chilly in
here.'

" Get up and move around and you won't feel
chilly,'1 replied Steve unsympathetically. " Gee,
I wish I had my pajamas and things.'

" You might have had them by this time if
you'd helped me look for that fellow,' said Torn.
" I'm just as certain as I am that I'm lying here

68 LEFT END EDWAKDS

that the fellow we saw in the dining-hall was the
fellow who swiped your suit-case! :

" Oh, forget that,' said Steve disgustedly.
" Common-sense ought to tell you that a sneak
thief you saw in New York wouldn't be having his
supper here at Brimfield! :

" He was, though,' replied the other stub-
bornly.

" Oh, run away! Don't you suppose there
are two people who look alike in this
world ? ' '

" Not as much alike as those two.'

" Why, you didn't even get a good look at the
fellow in the dining-hall. He had his back turned
to you."

" Not when I saw him first, he didn't,' an-
swered Tom with a vigorous shake of his head.
' ' I saw his face before he turned at the doorway
and it was Mm!

" You mean it was he, you ignoramus. All
right, Tom, have your own way about it. Only
someone ought to warn the principal about him.
Why, he might run off with a couple of the build-
ings some night! "

61 Enjoy yourself," murmured Tom. " But
you'll find I was right some day, you old pig-
headed chump ! ' '

LEFT END EDWARDS 69

" When I do I — I'll make you a present,' an-
swered Steve, with a grin.

11 Any present you d give me wouldn't cut much
figure, I guess,' said the boy on the bed con-
temptuously.

< ' Is that so ? Say, what '11 1 do with this bag? "
Steve laid the suit-case in question on his bed and
threw open the lid. " The pajamas look clean,
anyway,' he continued as he viewed them. " I
suppose I'll have to wear them." He drew the
cap out and set it on his head. " Wonder what
the B stands for, Tom. '

" What bee? " asked Tom lazily.

' ' The B on this cap, ' ' replied the other, study-
ing it.

Tom suddenly sat up on the bed. ' * Why, Brim-
field, of course! " he exclaimed in triumph.
" There now! Was I right or wasn't I? ;

' ' Shucks ! It might stand for anything : Brown,
Brooklyn, beans, brownbread, basketball-

" Yes, and Brimfield! And aren't the Brim-
field colours maroon-and-grey, and isn't that cap
grey, and isn't that B maroon? "

" It's red."

' ' So is maroon, a brownish-red. ' Tom had de-
serted his bed and was turning the cap about eag-
erly. " This belongs to some fellow here who has

70 LEFT END EDWARDS

won his letter, Steve, ' ' lie said with deep convic-
tion.

" Some fellow who has lost his letter, you
mean,' ' replied Steve with a laugh. " All right;
it will save me from buying a cap when I make the
football team. How does it look on me! "

" It 's too big, ' ' said Tom. " It 's about a seven,
I guess. That's what that fellow would wear, I
think. ' Tom frowned thoughtfully. i i Are there
any more clues? ' he asked, dropping the cap and
seizing the pajamas excitedly.

' ' Sure ! There are brushes in the case and they
mean that the fellow has hair on his head, Tom.
So there's no use looking for a bald-headed man,
eh? That's what they call ' the process of elimi-
nation,' isn't it? Say, what are you trying to do
with those things? Euin them? Please remem-
ber that I've got to wear them to-night.'

" Looking for laundry marks,' replied Tom.

" But there aren't any. I guess they're new

ones.' He dropped the pajamas regretfully and

turned his attention to the other objects in the bag.

; A magazine,' he muttered.

" 'Fine'! — as Horace would say. The man can
read. Therefore he is not blind. Elimination
again! At this rate we'll know all about him in
a minute, Tom. Gee, but you're a wise guy.

LEFT END EDWARDS 71

Have a look at the collar and telf me the fellow's
name. Go on! ;

" It begins with an M, anyway,'7 muttered Tom,
studying the object in question.

66 Ha! : exclaimed Steve melodramatically.
" The net is closing! He has hair on his head, is
not blind, wears purple pajamas and spells his
name with an M! The rest is easy, Tom. Put
your hat on and we '11 go out and get him. ' '

" Oh, shut up, you silly goat! : Tom had the
magazine in his hands again and was glancing'
through it. Suddenly, with an exclamation, he
thrust it into Steve's hands. " There! Hold it
up and let it fall open itself, Steve ! "

' ' All right. What about it ? "

" Look where it opened! "

"Page 64. "

" Yes, but what's there? "

" ' Men Who Have Made Football History,
by ' "

' * There you are ! Don 't you see ? That 's what
he was reading. He's a football man and that B
is his football letter ! ' '

" Oh! But, say, Tom, you're forgetting that
this suit-case is supposed to have been stolen from
someone else. Then what? "

" We don't know that it was. We just thought

72 LEFT END EDWAEDS

so. It looks now as if it really belonged to the
fellow. ' '

' * And be went and swapped it for mine ? What
would he do that f or ? ' '

" Maybe he thought yours might have some-
thing valuable in it," faltered Tom. " Maybe —
say, Steve, perhaps he got yours by mistake ! ' '

1 i Sure ! : replied the other sarcastically.
" Beached down and dragged it from under your
feet, thinking all the while it was his. Sounds
very probable — 1 don't think! ;

" Well, you can see for yourself-

" What was that! " interrupted Steve.

" What was what? "

6 ' I thought I heard a knock at the door. ' ' They
listened. It sounded again. Steve hustled the
things back into the bag and slammed the lid shut
in a twinkling. Then, i ' Come in ! : ' he called.

The door opened and a tall youth stepped in-
side. He carried a suit-case in one hand. Tom
gasped. It was the " confidence-man "!

CHAPTER VII

THE CONFIDENCE-MAN

6( Hi," greeted the visitor, with a smile, as he slid
the suit-case across the floor and faced the two
boys. " Want to swap bags? "

" That — that's mine! " exploded Steve.
6 i Where 'd yon get it I "

The visitor pnlled a chair ont from the wall and
seated himself nonchalantly. " And that," he re-
sponded, nodding at the bag on the bed, " is mine.
I didn't think the pamajas would fit you and I
was mighty sure yours wouldn't fit me. So I
dropped around to make an exchange.'

" You're the fellow in the station! : ' exclaimed
Tom accusingly.

' i Eight-o ! I 'm the ' sneak-thief. ' ' '

' ' I knew it ! " declared Tom triumphantly. t ' I
saw you in the dining-hall and told Steve it was
you and he wouldn't believe it! :

" Wouldn't he? " laughed the visitor.

" I suppose it's some sort of a silly joke," said
Steve bewildereclly. " Would you mind telling
me why you — why you took my bag?

74 LEFT END EDWARDS

" Glad to, Edwards. You are Edwards, aren't
you? I thought so. And this chap's Hall? Well,
my name's Miller. So now we know each other.
Would you mind sitting down, you fellows?

Steve sank on to the bed and Tom retreated to
the unoccupied chair, from where he viewed Miller
with fascinated attention.

" It was this way, you fellows,' explained
Miller. " I may be a bit thin-skinned, but I don't
like being called a sneak-thief. Edwards here told
you, Hall, to look after your bags because there
were sneak-thieves around. And then he looked
at me very impolitely. After he went away I saw
that you really did suspect me of being something
of the sort and it occurred to me that it might be
amusing to teach you chaps not to pass compli-
ments.'

11 I didn't mean you to hear me,' said Steve
confusedly.

" I couldn't help it, as you spoke right out," re-
plied Miller drily. ' ' Well, so when Hall changed
his seat I went along and tried to talk to him. But
he was foxy, Hall was. He wasn't going to be
fooled ! When it got to be train time I spun him
a yarn about a harmless old man across the room,
and got him to look at him. Then I changed the
bags. I thought you fellows would take the same

LEFT END EDWAKDS 75

train and I meant to give you back your bag then.
But you weren't on it and so I suppose you were
looking around the station for me. Was that
it! "

" I didn't get back in time," said Steve. " We
didn't find out about the bags until the train had
gone. Then we did look around, and we told a
policeman, and "

Miller put his head back and laughed delight-
edly. ' ' Bully ! : ' he cried. * ' You chaps are won-
ders! "

" Well, what would you have done? asked
Tom indignantly. " How were we to know that
it was a joke! "

" Oh, I'd have done the same thing, of course,"
answered the other soothingly. " Only the idea
of the New York police department being on the
lookout for me struck me as a bit humorous."

" Tom says you asked him about Tannersville,"
said Steve. " How did you know he was from
there? "

" Not difficult," chuckled Miller. " It's on the'
end of his bag. And I knew he was coming to
Brimfield because there was a tag on the handle.
I couldn't make out your names, but I could see
1 Brimfield, N. Y.' all right."

Steve and Tom smiled foolishly. " I never

76 LEFT END EDWAEDS

thought of that/' murmured Tom. " We — we
thought you were a confidence-man! :

" So I thought you thought," laughed Miller.
" Well, here's your property, Edwards. I dare
say it was rather a mean joke to play on you, but
you sort of invited it, you see.'

" I don't care now that I've got it back,' re-
sponded Steve philosophically. " Torn was cer-
tain you were the fellow who took my bag when he
saw you in dining-hall and he was all heated up
about it. Wanted to arrest you at once, I guess.'

" Well, I was right, though, wasn't I? " de-
manded Tom. " You said it couldn't be the same
chap. But I knew! "

" Yes, you're some sleuth,' agreed Steve.
" You were right and I was wrong, as you always

are.' :

" How about that present you were to give
me? " inquired Tom.

" You'll get it, all right; just before Christmas.
Then, to Miller : ' l We — I had your things out
of your bag," he said apologetically. " I thought
I'd have to wear those pajamas.'

" They'd have been a bit large, I guess,'
laughed Miller. ' t Still, they are brand-clean and
you could have wrapped them around you a few
times and turned them up at the feet and hands.

LEFT END EDWABDS 77

Well, how have you chaps found everything! All
right! "

11 Yes, thanks," said Steve. " We forgot to
check our trunks at the Grand Central Station,
though, and so we're sort of hard-up for things
to wear."

" Too bad." Miller smiled. " I guess you
chaps haven't travelled around much, eh?

" Not much. This is the first time we've ever
been so far east."

" Well, I don't blame you for getting a bit con-
fused in New York. It's a tough old place to get
around in unless you know the ropes. If you need
collars or anything maybe I can help you out. I
suppose, though, mine wouldn't fit.'

" We'll get on all right, thanks," replied Steve.
" Our trunks will surely be along in the morning.
The man who drove us up here had the agent tele-
graph back for them and said he'd fetch them as
soon as they came."

6 i Jimmy Horse ? He will if he doesn 't forget. ' '

" This fellow said his name was Ho skins, I
think," said Tom.

' * Yes, we call him Jimmy Horse. He will prob-
ably be alone; with them before noon. Just de-
pends on whether he remembers them and how
busy he is. Still, not many fellows get here be-

78 LEFT END EDWARDS

fore the eleven o'clock train and so he ought to
find time to bring the trunks. If he doesn't show
up soon after breakfast you'd better telephone to
him. The booth's in Main Hall, around the cor-
ner from the office. I suppose you saw old ' Quite
So '? "

"Who? "asked Steve.

" Mr. Brooke, the secretary. We call him
' Quite So ' because he's always saying that.
Didn't you notice? "

" I did," said Tom. " I thought maybe he was
Mr. Fernald, though."

66 No, you won't see Josh much. He lives
around the corner there in The Cottage. You'll
be lucky if you don't see him, too. When you call
on Josh it's usually because you've been and gone
and done something. He will be at Faculty Ee-
ception to-morrow evening, though. That's in
Upper Hall at eight o'clock. Better go, fellows;
everyone does. Have you met your Hall Master,
Mr. Daley ? ' '

" Yes, we stopped in at his room after supper,'
answered Steve. " Is he " He hesitated.

Miller laughed. " Go on and say it, Edwards !
Is he what? "

" I was going to ask if he was liked.'

" Oh, yes, Daley's all right. Bather shy, but

LEFT END EDWAEDS 79

he's young yet. This is only his second year.
You'll like him better when you've known him
awhile. What form are you fellows in I
" Fourth. At least, we hope we are.'
61 Oh? you'll make it. They'll put you in, any-
way, and then drop you back if you don't keep up.
That's a pleasant little trick of theirs here.
You'll have Daley in French and German. Take
my advice and don't have fun with him just be-
cause you can. Most of the new fellows try to
make life a burden to him because he gets kind of
rattled and tries to swallow his tongue when he
talks. But they're generally sorry for it later.
He stands about so much and then — bing! Off
you go to Josh! And here's another tip, fellows.
Always be dead serious with i Uncle Sim.' That's
Mr. Simkins, Greek instructor. If you can look
as if you'd lost all your friends and bitten your
tongue you'll make a big hit with him. He doesn't
know a joke even when it's labelled and can't stand
any flippancy. I made a pun in class once; I've
forgotten what it was, but it was a bright and scin-
tillant little effort; and Uncle Sim told me I'd end
on the gallows. He's never forgotten that and
still views me with deep suspicion.'

" We will try to remember," laughed Steve.
" I suppose you are in the Sixth Form! "

80 LEFT END EDWARDS

" Yes, this is my last year here. I ought to
have been out last year, but I slipped a cog when I
first came and got dropped a form. You see, I
made the mistake of thinking that the principal
branches were Football, Baseball and Hockey.
When I'd woke up to the fact that a little atten-
tion to mathematics and languages and such fool-
ishness was required it was too late, and — plop !
— sound of falling! "

Steve recalled a similar warning of his father's
and silently made up his mind then and there to
not make Miller's mistake.

"Do you play football!" asked Tom. "I
mean, are you on the team? :

" Yes, I — I 'm on the team. ' ' Miller 's smile had
an odd quality that puzzled Tom at the moment.
" You chaps know the game?

" Steve has played more than I have,' replied
Tom. " He was on our high school team at left
end last year. He's pretty good, Steve is. I
didn't make the 'Varsity, but I played a couple of
years with the scrubs."

" Tom plays a good game," said Steve. " I
suppose it's pretty hard to get on the team here.'

" About the same as anywhere,' answered
Miller. < ' If you show the goods you 're all right. ' '
He viewed Steve speculatively and then turned an

Steve slipped on the tiling and fell sidewise into the

water

LEFT END EDWAEDS 81

appraising gaze on Tom. * ' You chaps look pretty
fit for this time of year. What do you weigh, Ed-
wards! "

" About a hundred and thirty-eight. "

" You look solid, too/ ' said Miller approvingly.
11 You chaps show up in togs day after to-morrow
at four. Look me up and I'll see that you get a
good chance to show what you can do. Where
have you played, Hall!

" At tackle, mostly. I played half a little last
fall."

" You look rather likely, I think. Don't be
disappointed if you don't make the first or second
this year, fellows. Keep going. There's your
hall team. Try for that. You'll get lots of good
fun and experience. I tell you this not to dis-
courage you but because we've kept a lot of last
year's fellows and it's going to be harder than
usual to break into the first team, I guess. And
that means that a good many of the second team
fellows will be disappointed and will have to stay
where they are. Hard on them, but lucky for the
school. I don't know whether you chaps under-
stand the football situation with us? "

" I don't believe so,' ' replied Steve.

" Well, it's like this. When I came here four
years ago there wasn't any team. Before that,

82 LEFT END EDWAEDS

five or six years before, they'd played, but about
that time football got into disfavour and the
faculty stopped it. I believe they allowed the hall
teams to play, but that didn't last long. My sec-
ond year here they lifted the ban and we started
a team. Of course it didn't amount to much that
first year and we got licked right and left. The
next year, though, we did a good deal better, and
last year we turned out a mighty good team. We
lost only two games out of nine and tied one. Un-
fortunately, though, one of the games we lost was
the game with Claflin, which is our big game of
the year. Claflin has beaten us three years run-
ning now and this year we 're out for revenge with
a rolling E. Considering that we've played only
three seasons, we've got a pretty good start. Our
coach is a dandy, a chap named Eobey; played
with Brown the year they doAvned Pennsy; and
he's been building up this year's team ever since
he started in. At first we didn't have more than
forty candidates to choose from. Last year about
sixty fellows turned out and this fall I guess we'll
have nearer eighty. Eobey started the hall teams
up again year before last and that helped a lot.
The best of the hall team chaps went into the sec-
ond last year, and now, this year, we've got fel-
lows with three years' experience behind them.

LEFT END EDWAEDS 83

So, you see, Edwards, we haven't got much foot-
ball history at Brimfield and our system is still
pretty new, but we're getting on! And this fall
if we don't lick Claflin — well, if we don't, I'll have
missed my guess.

Miller's lean, good-looking face had lighted up
with enthusiasm during his recital, and, when he
had ended, as though impatient to begin the cam-
paign which was to end in the rout of the enemy,
he got up and took a turn the length of the room.
He didn't look the least bit in the world like a
confidence-man to-night and the two boys mar-
velled at their earlier suspicions. Miller was tall,
lean with the leanness of muscles unhampered by
useless flesh, and lithe. He had very clear brown
eyes, a straight nose and high cheek bones that
somehow reminded Steve of the engraved portrait
of John C. Calhoun that hung in the library at
home. Altogether, from the top of his well-
shaped head to the soles of his rubber-shod feet,
he was good to look at, clean-cut, well-groomed,
'healthy and very much alive. Steve found him-
self wishing that some day he might find himself
playing shoulder to shoulder with Miller. He
hated to think what would happen to the enemy
in such a case!

Miller paused at the table, thrust his hands into

84 LEFT END EDWAEDS

his pockets and smiled a trifle apologetically.
" Well, that's the way it is, you chaps," he went
on. " So, whether you make the first or the sec-
ond or neither, you keep on playing and trying.
There's another year coming for you fellows; two
of them, in fact. Keep that in mind, and if you
don't get what you want this year keep plugging.
And don't fail to come out Wednesday and do your
best. You'll get a fair show and if you can play
the game well enough you'll get places. Now I
must run along with my bag. I'm glad to have
met you chaps. If I can help you in any way don't
fail to call on me. You'll find me in 7 Hensey.
Come and see me anyway. Miller's the name.
And, by the way, I'm glad you chaps took my lit-
tle joke so decently and didn't get waxy about it.
If you had, I'd probably have told it around and
you'd have got a lot of joshing. As it is, no one
knows it and no one will. Good-night.'

And Miller, his suit-case in hand, smiled, nodded
and went out. They could hear him whistling
merrily until the landing door had closed behind
him.

" I meant to ask him what position he played,'
said Steve regretfully. " I'll bet he's a corker,
though ! ' '

" I'll bet you he is," agreed Tom warmly.

LEFT END EDWABDS 85

" And 3ie seemed a rattling good sort, too, didn't
he? "

" Yes. And I'm glad I lost rny bag. If I
hadn't we mightn't have known him, seeing that
he's a Sixth Form fellow."

" I guess he's sort of prominent," mused Tom.
" He gives you the idea of being someone, doesn't
he? "

" Oh, he's someone, all right! Do you think he
really wants us to call on him, Tom? Or — or was
he just being polite?

" Both, I guess. I don't suppose we'd better
call unless he asks us again. We don't want to
act fresh, you know. Besides,' and Tom smiled
mischievously, "I'm not sure we ought to asso-
ciate with him."

" Why not? " asked Steve incredulously.

" Well, seeing that he's a confidence-man '?

CHAPTER VIII

THE KUBBING KOOM ,

AFTER breakfast the next morning, a breakfast

•

eaten with excellent appetites, the two boys set
out on a sightseeing tour about the school. They
went first to the gymnasium. The big front door
was locked, but Steve was not to be denied and
eventually gained entrance through a little door
at the rear which led into the boiler-room and
from there found their way into the main base-
ment where were situated the big swimming tank,
a commodious baseball cage and a bowling alley.
On the floor above they found themselves in a
square hall, entered from the front door, from
which other doors led to the gymnasium, the locker
and bathrooms and a small office bearing the sign
" Physical Director." From the hall a fire-
proof stairway ascended with a turn to the run-
ning-track and a large room which was evidently
used as a meeting hall. Settees were neatlv ar-

ranged in front of a platform, a row of low win-
dows admitted a flood of morning sunshine and
against the walls hung many photographs of ath-

LEFT END EDWAEDS 87

letic teams. Most of them showed groups of track
and field men, although a few were of hockey
sevens and there were three football teams in evi-
dence. The explorers paid more attention to
these photographs than the others, and Steve,
whose patriotism was already strong, read the in-
scriptions on the lower margins with disfavour.

" Huh! " he grumbled. " ' Brimfield 0; Claf-
lin 12 ' ; ' Brimfield 3 ; Claflin 11 ' ; < Brimfield 6 ;
Claflin 9.' Bet you next time it'll be some dif-
ferent, Torn! "

" Eather! " said Tom stoutly. " Let's go on
down and see the gym."

They tried the chest-weights and tested the bars
and experimented with about everything they
found down there, and then went into the adjoin-
ing compartment and peered into the shower-baths
and passed on the merits of the steel lockers.

" The fellow who built this gym knew what he
was doing," declared Steve approvingly. " Some
of these lockers have got things in them," he con-
tinued, peeping into one. " There's a bat in here,
and a towel and some clothes.'

Tom had wandered through a doorway at the
end of the locker compartment and now summoned
Steve to join him. There was a high table in the
centre of the small room and a set of metal shelves

88 LEFT END EDWAEDS

alongside which held numerous bottles and boxes.
" It's the rubbing room,' said Steve. " Here,
get busy, Tom ! : And he hoisted himself to the
table and stretched out on his back.

" Yes, sir," said Tom. " Where's it hurt you?
This the spot! "

And Tom began such an enthusiastic manipula-
tion of Steve's ribs that the latter set up a howl
and precipitately tumbled off the table. It was
at that moment that an unpleasant voice startled
them.

" Beat it, you fresh kids! You've got no busi-
ness in here! "

The speaker was a heavy-set youth of perhaps
nineteen years of age. He had closely-cropped
ashy-brown hair over a round face from which a
pair of pale-blue eyes glowered upon them. He
was standing in the doorway and his hands were
thrust into the pockets of a pair of very wide-
hipped knickerbockers. Somehow, standing there
with his sturdy, golf-stockinged legs well apart
and his loose trousers pulled out at the sides, he
reminded Tom of a clown at a circus, and Tom
made the mistake of grinning. The big youth
caught sight of the grin and stepped into the rub-
bing room with a deepening scowl on his face.

1 i Wipe it off ! " he said threateningly.

•••

LEFT END EDWARDS 89

Steve and Tom looked at the table.

" Wipe what off? " asked Tom, at a loss.

" Wipe that grin off your ugly face," answered
the other. ' ' And get out of here, both of you, and
stay out. If you don't, I'll throw you
out!"

This somewhat astounding threat caused an ex-
change of surprised glances between the culprits.
Neither Steve nor Tom were quarrelsome, nor had
they had more than a boy's usual share of fist bat-
tles, but the bullying speech and attitude o'f the
round-faced youth was so uncalled for and ex-
asperating that Steve's temper got the better of
him for the moment.

" We weren't doing any harm here,' he de-
clared indignantly. i i And we '11 get out, but we 're
not afraid of you, even if you have got piano
legs!"

The big fellow pulled his hands from his pockets
with an angry growl and, clenching his fists, strode
toward the boys. But at that instant footsteps
sounded in the locker room, and the bully's hands
dropped and he turned his head toward the door
just as a small, red-haired and freckle-faced little
Irishman came into sight.

" Hello, Eric the Red," he said jovially. " An'
what might you be doin' down here, me boy? "

90 LEFT END EDWARDS

"I'm telling these fresh kids to get out of
here,' replied the youth. " Any objections?

The little Irishman seemed surprised, and he
smiled, but the boys noted that his small and
rather greenish eyes narrowed.

" None at all, at all, me boy. If I had I'd very
soon tell you, d'ye see? But what harm are they
doin ' ? Sure, if I don 't mind them bein ' here, why
would you ? ' '

" They haven't any business in this room, and
you know it, Danny. They're too fresh, any-
way.'

" Well, that's what we all are at some time.
Let the boys be. Was you wantin' anything,
boys? "

" No, we were just looking around the place.
This door was open and we came in. We didn't
know there was any harm in it," concluded Steve.

" No more there was,' said Danny soothingly.

" They were rough-housing all over the place,'
growled the big fellow. " If you can stand it I
can, though. Only " — and he turned a wrath-
ful gaze on Steve — " if you ever get fresh with me
again you'll get the licking that's coming to you,
kid." He turned awav toward the locker room.

" Say, Danny, got a key to my locker? I've lost
mine and I want to get into it a minute.'

LEFT END EDWARDS 91

" I have not,' replied Danny cheerfully.

" You'll have to have one fitted, me boy.'

" Hasn't anyone a master-key! " demanded the

other.

" They have not. Find Patsy; he'll fit one for
you in ten minutes."

" That's a funny state of things,' grumbled
the big fellow. " They ought to have dupli-
cates on hand. Somebody's always losing a key,
and "

The rest was lost as the youth disappeared into
the further room. Danny winked gravely at the
two boys.

11 Who is he? " asked Steve curiously.

" Him! His name's Sawyer, Eric Sawyer.
He is sufTerin' from a terrible complaint, boys, an'
it makes him that cross a bear would run away
from him, I'm thinkin'! "

" What's the trouble with him! "

" He has what the doctors do be callin' an in-
growin' grouch," replied Danny soberly. " 'Tis
due to over-exposure of the ego, they tell me, re-
sultin' in an inflamed condition of the amoor
proper, that same bein' French an' maybe beyond
your comprehension. '

The boys laughed and Danny swung himself to
the table and patted it invitingly. " Sit down,

92 LEFT END EDWAEDS

boys, an' tell me all about it,' he said. " Who
may you be, now?

66 His name is Hall and mine is Edwards," re-
plied Steve, as he and Tom followed Danny's ex-
ample and swung their feet from the table.
" We're new boys.'

" I suspected as much,' replied Danny drily.
" An' where might be your place of residence? :

11 Tannersville, Pennsylvania."

' ' Think o ' that now ! : marvelled Danny.
" Sure, you're a long ways from home. Is this
place you say anywhere near Philadelphia? "

" Oh, no, it's a long ways from there. It's out
in the western part of the state.'

" I was in Philadelphia once to see the games
at the college over there," pursued Danny. " It's
a fine town."

" Would you mind — telling us who you are?
asked Tom.

i i I would not. I have no unseemly pride. My
name is Mister Daniel Parnell Moore, and I have
the extraordinary honour of bein' the trainer at
this institution o' learnin' and Fine Arts, the Fine
Arts bein' athletics, football, baseball, hockey an'
tinnis. An' now you know! :

' * Thank you, ' ' said Tom politely. * ' I hope you
didn't mind my asking you."

LEFT END EDWARDS 93

" Not a bit! You may ask me anything you
like, Jim.'

" My name isn't Jim," replied Tom, with a
smile.

" It ain't! The trainer seemed surprised.
66 Sure, he said your last name was Hall, didn't
he? An' I never seen a Hall whose front name
wasn't Jim.'

" I'm sorry," laughed Tom, " but mine isn't;
it's Tom."

Danny Moore shook his head sadly. " An'
you," he said, turning to Steve, " maybe you'll be
tellin' me next your name ain't Sam? :

1 < It's Steve."

" It might be,' agreed Danny doubtfully.
" But all the Edwardses I ever knew was
Sams. But I'm not disputin' your word, d'ye
mind! 'Tis likely you know, me boy. An'
what do you think o ' this rural paradise o ' knowl-
edge! "

" I guess we like it pretty well, what we've seen

of it," answered Steve. " Have you been here
long! "

" Two years; this is my third. It's a nice
schools, as schools go. I never had much use for
them, though. In the Old Country we never held
with them much when I was a lad. I dare say you

94 LEFT END EDWAEDS

boys '11 be tryin' to play football like all the rest
of them I

" We're going out for the team,' said Steve,
" although I guess, from what a fellow told us
last night, we don't stand much show. He said
that most of the last year's players were back this
fall."

" That's so. We lost but four by graduation.
They were some o' the best in the bunch, though.
'Tis queer how the ones that is gone is always the
best, ain 't it 1 Who was this feller you was talkin '
to? "

" His name is Miller. Do you know him! I
suppose you must, though.'

" Miller? Do you mean Andy Miller? "

" I don't know. He didn't tell us his other

name."

' i The initials were A. L. M., though, ' ' reminded
Tom.

" That's right. Is he a pretty good play-
er? "

' ' He does fairly well, ' ' answered Danny Moore
carelessly. " Not that I pay much heed to him,
though. I see him around sometimes. I wouldn't
think much of what he tells you, though. I don't.
If you see him I'd be obliged if you'd tell him
that."

LEFT END EDWAEDS 95

But there was a twinkle in Danny 's eye and
Steve resolved to tell Miller no such thing.
" What position does he play! ' he asked.

Danny frowned thoughtfully. " It might be
end, right or left. I forget. I pay no heed to
the likes o' him. He's only the captain, d'ye
see? "

' ' Captain ! ' ' exclaimed the two boys startledly,
eyeing each other in amazement.

" Sure," said Danny. " An' why not! "

" Er — there's no reason," replied Steve," only
— he didn't say anything about being cap-
tain."

6 i And why would he be after incriminating him-
self! " Danny demanded.

The boys digested this news in silence for a
moment. Then,

" Does that fellow who was just in here play! "
asked Tom.

' * He does. He plays right guard, and he plays
it well. I'll say that for him. Well, it's catchin'
no fish I am sittin' here gassin' with you fellers.
Make yourselves to home. I must be gettin' on.'

" I guess we'll go, too," said Steve.

They followed the trainer up the stairway to
the hall above. There he pulled a bunch of keys
from his pocket and unlocked the big front door

96 LEFT END EDWAEDS

for them. " Now, look at that, will you? " he ex-
claimed in amazement as he turned a small key
over between his fingers. " I wouldn't be sur-
prised if that key would fit them lockers down
there. Ain't that a pity, an' him wantin' it all
the time? "

The boys smiled and agreed gravely that it was.
Danny sighed, shook his head and dropped the
keys back into his pocket. " If you have trouble
with him," he said to Steve, " hit for his head,
boy, for you'll make no impression on the body of
him."

" Thanks, but I don't expect he will bother me

again. '

" I know. I'm only tellin' you. A word
to the wise, d'ye mind? Good luck to you,
boys."

" Thanks. We're much obliged to you, Mr.
Moore."

' ' Mr. Moore ! Help ! Listen. ' ' And Danny
bent confidentially. " I won't be mindin' if you
call me Mister Moore when we're by ourselves,
d'ye see; but don't be doin' it in the presence of
others. Them as didn't know might think I was
one of the faculty, d'ye see. Call me Danny an'
save me self-respect! "

When the door had closed behind them on the

LEFT END EDWAEDS 97

grinning countenance of Danny, Steve looked at
his watch and exclaimed startledly.

" Nearly ten o'clock! : he said. " And we
promised to telegraph to the folks this morning.
Let's see if the trunks have come and then hustle
to the telegraph office/'

CHAPTER IX

SACK IN TOGS

BRIMFIELD Ac/ DEMY was in full swing. The term
was a day old and one hundred and fifty-three
youths of various ages from twelve to twenty had
settled down, more or less earnestly, to the school
routine. In 12 Billings trunks had been unpacked
and the room had taken on a look of comfort and
coziness, although several things were yet lacking
to complete its livableness. For instance, an easy-
chair of some sort was a crying necessity, a drop-
light would help a lot, and a cushion and some pil-
lows on the window-seat were much needed. Tom
argued that if the window-seat was furnished they
would not require an easy-chair, but Steve held
out for the added luxury.

Both boys, Steve by a narrower margin than he
suspected, had made the Fourth Form, and this
afternoon, as they expeditiously changed into foot-
ball togs, their glances more than once stole to
the imposing piles of books on the study table,
books which hinted at many future hours of hard
work. Steve, pulling on a pair of much worn and

LEFT END EDWARDS 99

discoloured canvas trousers, sighed as Ms eye
measured again the discouraging height of his
pile. It was almost enough to spoil in advance
the pleasure he looked forward to on the gridiron !

The athletic field lay behind the school build-
ings and was a fine level expanse of green turf
some twelve acres in extent. There were three
gridirons, a baseball diamond, a quarter-mile run-
ning-track and a round dozen of tennis courts
there. A well-built iron-framed stand, erected in
sections, and mounted on small wide-tread wheels
could be moved about as occasion required, and at
present was standing in the middle of the south
side of the football field. On the whole Brinifield
had reason to be proud of her athletic equipment,
field and gymnasium, as well as of her other ad-
vantages.

The scene along the Kow as the two friends clat-
tered out of Billings was vastly different from
that presented the afternoon of their arrival.
Now the walk was alive with boys, heads pro-
truded from open casements and wandering
couples could be ^seen lounging along the gate
drive or over the sloping lawn that descended to
the road. First practice had been called for four
o'clock and the big dial in the ivy-draped tower
of Main Hall pointed its hands to three-forty when

100 LEFT END EDWAKDS

Steve and Tom turned into the path between Tor-
rence and Wendell leading to the gymnasium and
the field beyond. Already, however, the fellows
were turning their steps that way, some in playing
togs but more in ordinary attire, the latter, yield-
ing to the lure of a warm. September afternoon,
bent on finding an hour's entertainment stretched
comfortably at ease along a side line or perched
on the stand.

" That's pretty, isn't it? : ' asked Tom, as they
looked across the nearer turf to where the broad
expanse of playing ground, bordered on its further
side by a wooded slope, stretched before them.
The early frosts had already slightly touched the
trees over there, and hints of russet-yellow and
brick-red showed amongst the green. Nearer than
that, more colour was supplied by an occasional
dark red sweater amongst the groups loitering
about the edge of the gridiron.

" It surely is pretty," agreed Steve. " I won-
der if Miller's there yet. He told us to look him
up, you know.'

' l Maybe he will give us a send-off to the coach,'
suggested Tom. i i He could, you know, since he is
captain. I guess it won't do us any harm — me,
anyway — to have someone speak a word for us,
eh?"

LEFT END EDWAKDS 101

" "Wonder wliat the coacli is like," said Steve,
nodding agreement. " Miller seemed to think he
was pretty good. That's a dandy turf there,
Tom; level as a table. They haven't marked the
gridiron out yet, though.'

" I suppose they don't need it for a day or two,'
replied the other, trying not to feel self-conscious
as he neared the crowd already on hand. " I
don't see Miller, do you! "

Steve shook his head, after a glance about him,
and, rolling his hands in the folds of his sweater,
not because the weather was cold but because that
was a habit of his, seated himself at the bottom
of the stand. Tom followed him and they looked
about them and conversed in low voices while the
throng grew with every minute. So far neither
had made any acquaintances save that of Andy
Miller — unless Eric Sawyer could be called such !
— and they felt a little bit out of it as they saw
other boys joyously hailing each other, stopping
to shake hands or exchange affectionate blows, or
waving greetings from a distance. They had
made the discovery, by the way, that the proper
word of salutation at Brimfield was " Hi "! It
was invariably " Hi, Billy "! " Hi, Joe "! and
the usual " Hello : ' was never heard. Eventually
Steve and Tom became properly addicted to the

102 LEFT END EDWARDS

"Hi M habit, but it was some time before they
were able to keep from showing their newness by
' ' Helloing : ' each other.

The stand became sprinkled with youths and
the turf along the edge of the gridiron held many
more. A man of apparently thirty years of age,
wearing a grey Norfolk suit and a cap to match,
appeared at the corner of the stand just as the
bell in Main Hall struck four sonorous peals. He
was accompanied by three boys in togs, one of
them Captain Miller. The coach was a clean-cut
chap with a nice face and a medium-sized, wiry
figure. He had sandy hair and eyebrows that
were almost white, and his sharp blue eyes
sparkled from a deeply tanned face upon which,
at the moment, a very pleasant smile played. But
even as Steve and Tom watched him the smile died
abruptly and he pulled a black leather memoran-
dum book from a pocket and fluttered its leaves in
a businesslike way.

Miller had predicted that this fall some eighty
candidates would appear, but he had evidently
been over-sanguine. Sixty seemed nearer the
correct number than eighty. But even sixty-odd
looked a good many as they gradually gathered
nearer the coach. Steve and Tom slipped from
their places and joined the throng.

LEFT END EDWARDS 103

" Last year's first and second team players take
the east end of the field,' directed Mr. Robey.
" All others remain here. I'm going to tell you
right now, fellows, that there's going to be a whole
lot of hard work this fall, and any of you who don't
like hard work had better keep away. This is a
good time to quit. You'll save your time and
mine too. All right now! Take some balls with
you, Milton, and warm up until I get down there.
Now, then, you new men, give me your names.
"Where's Lawrence? Not here yet? All right.
What's your name and what experience have you
had, my boy?

One by one the candidates answered the coach's
questions and then trotted into the field where Eric
Sawyer was in command. Andy Miller and
Danny Moore stood at the coach's elbow during
this ceremony, and when, toward the last, Steve
and Tom edged up, they were greeted by both.

" Here's the fine lad," said Danny, who caught
sight of Steve before Miller did. ' ' Mr. Sam Ed-
wards, Coach, a particular friend of mine.'

Steve, rather embarrassed, started to say that

/ */

his name was not Sam, but Miller interrupted him.

" So here you are, Edwards? Glad to see you

again. I've been looking for you and Hall to drop

in on me. How are you, Hall? Eobey, these two

104 LEFT END EDWARDS

have had some experience on their high school
team and I think they'll bear watching. Shake
hands with Mr. Bobey, Edwards."

' i Glad to know you, ' ' said the coach. ' i What 's
your position, Edwards! "

" I've been playing end, sir."

' l End, eh f You look fast, too. We '11 see what
you can do, my boy. And you, — er-

11 Jim Hall," supplied Danny. " Another close
friend o' rne boyhood, sir, an' a fine lad, too, be-
dad! "

" Tackle, sir, mostly,' replied Torn.

" It's a relief to find a couple who aren't bent
on being backs,' said the coach with a smile to
Miller. " All right, fellows. We'll give you all
the chance in the world. Eeport to Sawyer now.'

Steve and Tom, with the parting benediction of
a portentious wink from Danny Moore, joined the
thirty-odd candidates of many ages and sizes who,
formed in two rings, were passing footballs under
the stern and frowning regard of Eric Sawyer.
They edged their way into one of the circles and
were soon earnestly catching and tossing with the
rest. If Sawyer recognised them as the boys who
had aroused his ire in the rubbing room the day
before, he showed no sign of it. It is probable,
though, that their football attire served as a suffi-

LEFT END EDWAEDS 105

cient disguise. Sawyer apparently took his tem-
porary position as assistant coach very seriously
and bore himself with frowning dignity. But it
was not at all beneath his dignity to call erring
candidates to order or to indulge in a good deal
of heavy satire at the expense of those whose inex-
perience made them awkward. Neither Steve nor
Tom, however, fell under the ban of his dis-
pleasure.

Falling on the ball followed the passing, and, in
turn, gave place to starting and sprinting. For
this they were formed in line and Sawyer, leaning
over a ball at one end of the line, snapped it away
as a signal for them to leap forward. By that
time the warmth of the day and the exertion had
tuckered a good many of them out and Sawyer
found much fault with the performances.

" Oh, get moving, you chap in the black shirt
there! Watch the ball and dig when I snap it!
That 'sit! Go it! Hard! All right for you, but
about a dozen of you other chaps got left entirely.
Now get down there and throw your weight for-
ward. Haven't any of you ever practised starts
before f Anyone would think your feet were glued
down! Get in line again. Eeady now! Go, you
flock of ice-wagons! "

Fortunately for the softer members of the awk-

106 LEFT END EDWARDS

ward squad, practice was soon over to-day, and
Steve and Tom somewhat wearily tramped back
with the rest across to the gymnasium, determined
to have the luxury of a shower-bath even if they
would have to get back into their togs again af-
ter it.

" We'd better see about getting lockers,' said
Steve. " I wonder where you go.'

" They cost a dollar a year," answered Tom, .
who knew the contents of the school catalogue by
heart, " and if we don't make the team we won't
need the lockers.'

" Sure we will. If we use the swimming pool
we'll need a place to keep our clothes. And even
if we don 't make the big teams we '11 play with the
Hall, probably. Wish we had them now and
didn't have to go back to the room to change. I'm
tired, if you care to know it ! "

16 So am I," panted Tom. " Sawyer worked us
hard for a warm day."

66 Yes, and did you notice that fat fellow?
There he is ahead there, with the striped stockings.
He was just about all in and puffing like a loco-
motive."

" He was probably tender," said Torn.

11 Yes, he — Tender! That'll do for you! : ' said
Steve indignantly, aiming a blow at Tom's ribs

LEFT END EDWAEDS 107

which was skilfully evaded. " Let's stop at the
office in here and see if we can get lockers.'

They could. Moreover, Mr. Conklin, the physi-
cal director, informed them, to their deep satisfac-
tion, that the charge of one dollar each would be
placed on their term bill if they wished. They
wished with instant enthusiasm and departed, keys
in hand, to find their lockers. They found the
room thronged with fellows in various stages of
undressing, while from the baths came deep groans
and shrill shrieks and the hiss and splash of
water. Their lockers were side by side at the
farther end of the last aisle ; and, after making cer-
tain that the keys fitted them, they began to get
out of their clothes, only to make the discovery
when partly disrobed that they had no tow-
els.

"I'm going to ask someone to lend me one,'
said Steve. ' ' You can use an end of it if I get it.
I'm going to have that shower or bust.'

A cheerful-faced youth draped in a frayed bath-
robe came up at that moment and Steve sought
counsel of him.

" Towel? I'd lend you one in a minute, but
mine are all soiled. You can see for yourself.'
He nodded toward the open door of his locker on
the floor of which lay a pile of what were evidently

108 LEFT END EDWAEDS

bath towels. " I forgot to send them to the wash
before I went away in the spring. If you ask
Danny he might let you have one. I guess he's
around somewhere. "

Steve found the trainer leaning against the
doorway of the rubbing room. " 'Tis Sam Ed-
wards ! : ' greeted Danny. " An' how did it go to-
day, me boy ? ' '

" Pretty good, thanks. Could you lend me a
couple of towels, Mister — er — Danny? "

" I doubt have I got any, but I'll look an' see,'
and Danny disappeared into the room behind him.
" Here you are, Sam,' he said in a moment.
" They're small but select. Fetch 'em back when
you're through with 'em, if you please. They're
school property, d'ye mind, and it's me that's an-
swerable for them."

Steve promised faithfully to restore them and
bore them back in triumph to where Tom had
paused in his undressing to await the result of the
errand. A minute later they were putting and
blowing in adjoining baths, with the icy-cold water
raining down on their glowing bodies. A brisk
drying with the borrowed towels, a return to their
uninviting togs and they were ready to be off.
Steve couldn't find Danny, but he left the towels
on the table in the rubbing room and he and Tom

LEFT END EDWARDS 109

climbed the stairs again. In the hall above there
was a large notice board and Tom stopped to
glance at some of the announcements pinned
against it.

" Here a minute, Steve," he said. " Look at
this." He laid a finger on a square of paper
which bore in almost illegible writing this remark-
able notice: "What Will You Give? Dirt
Cheap ! Terms Cash ! One fine oak Morris chair,
good as new. Three cushions, very pretty. One
pair of skates. Eight phonograph records.
Large assortment of bric-a-brac. Any fair offer
takes them ! Call early and avoid disappointment.
Durkin, 13 Torrence."

" Is it a joke! " asked Steve doubtfully.

" No, there are lots of them, see." Sure
enough, the board held fully a dozen similar an-
nouncements, although the others were not
couched in such breezy language. There were
chairs, cushions, tables, pictures, golf clubs, rugs
and all sorts of things advertised for sale, while
one chap sought a purchaser for ' ' a stuffed white
owl, mounted on a branch, slightly moth-eaten.
Cash or exchange for books."

Steve laughed. ' ' What do you know about
that? " he asked. " Say, why don't we look at
some of the things, Tom! Maybe we could save

110 LEFT END EDWARDS

money. Let's call on Mr. Durkin and look at his
Morris chair, eh? "

11 All right. Come ahead. Anything else we
want! "

" I don't suppose we could pick up a cushion
that would fit our window-seat, but we might. I'll
write down some of the names and rooms.'

" We might buy the white owl, Steve. Ever
think you'd like a white owl? ;

11 Not with moths in it, thanks," replied Steve.
There was pen and ink on the ledge outside the
window of the physical director's office and Steve
secured paper by tearing a corner from one of the
notices. When he had scribbled down the ad-
dresses that sounded promising they set off for
Torrence Hall. Number 13 was on the second
floor, and as they drew near it their ears were af-
flicted by most dismal sounds.

" Wha-what's that? " asked Tom in alarm.

"Fiddle," laughed Steve. "Wonder if it's
Mr. Durkin."

The wailing sounds ceased as Steve knocked
and a voice called " Come in! " When they en-
tered they saw a tall, lank youth standing in front
of a music-rack close to the window. He held a
violin to his chin and waved his bow in greeting.

" Hi! " he said. " Sit down and I'll be right

LEFT END EDWARDS 111

with you. I've got one bit here that's been both-
ering me for an hour.' He turned back to his
music, waved his bow in the air, laid it across the
strings and drew forth sounds that made the vis-
itors squirm in the chairs they had taken. One
excruciating wail after another came from the tor-
tured instrument, the lank youth bending absorb-
edly over the notes in the failing light and ap-
parently quite oblivious to the presence of the
others. Finally, with a sigh of satisfaction, he
laid his bow on the ledge of the stand, stood his
violin in a corner of the window-seat and turned
to the visitors.

He was an odd-looking chap, tall and thin, with
a long, lean face under a mop of black hair that
was badly in need of trimming. His near-sighted
eyes blinked from behind the round lenses of a
pair of rubber-rimmed spectacles and his rather
nondescript clothes seemed on the point of falling
off of him.

" Sorry to keep you waiting," he said politely,
" but it's getting dark and I did want to get that
thing before I quit. Want to buy something? "

CHAPTEB X

" CHEAP FOR CASH "

" YES, we saw that you had a Morris chair,' re-
plied Steve. He glanced perplexedly around the
room. There was no Morris chair in sight, nor
were any of the other articles advertised to be
seen. ' * That is, if you 're Durkin. ' '

" That's me. The chair is downstairs in the
storeroom. It's a corking chair, all right, and
you're sure to want it. I'm sorry, though, you
didn't get around before it got so dark, because
the light down there isn't very good.'

" Well, we could come again in the morning,'
said Steve. " There's no hurry.'

11 I think you'd better see it now," said Durkin
with decision. i i It is a bargain and if you waited
someone might get ahead of you. We'll go
down."

" Er — well, how much is it! "

" All cash? "

66 Why, yes, I suppose so."

" It makes a difference. Sometimes fellows

Urant to pay part cash and part promise, and

112

LEFT END EDWAEDS 113

sometimes they want to trade. If you pay cash
you get it cheaper, of course.''

" All right. How much for it? "

Durkin looked the customers over appraisingly.
" Let's have a look at it before we talk about the
price," he said. " If I said five dollars now, when
you haven't seen it, you might think I was asking
too much.

" I surely would,' replied Steve firmly. " If
that's what you want for it I guess there's no use
going down to see it.'

" I didn't say that was the price," answered
Durkin. " I'll make the price all right. You fel-
lows come and see it." And he led the way out
into the corridor. Steve glanced questioningly at
Tom, and Tom smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

" Well, all right," said Steve. " Let's see it."

Durkin led the way to the lower hall and then
down a pair of dark and very steep stairs to the
basement. " You wait there," he instructed,
"•until I switch the light on. Now then, this
way. ' '

Durkin took a key from a nail and unlocked the
door of a room partitioned off in a corner of the
basement. The boys waited, and Durkin, having
disappeared into the gloom of the storeroom, pres-
ently reappeared, dragging after him a very dusty

114 LEFT END EDWABDS

brown-oak chair with a slat back, broad arms and
a much-worn leather seat.

" There you are," he said triumphantly, push-
ing the object into the faint gleam of light which
reached them from the foot of the stairs.
" There's a chair that'll last for years."

" But you said it was a Morris chair," ex-
claimed Tom. " That's no Morris chair! :

" Oh, yes, it is," Durkin assured them earn-
estly. " I bought it from him myself last June.'

" Bought it from whom? " asked Steve de-
risively.

" From Spencer Morris, of course. Paid a lot
for it, too. Have a look at it. It's just as good
as it ever was. The leather's a little bit worn at
the edges, but you can fix that all right. It
wouldn't cost more than half a dollar, I suppose,
to put a new piece on there.'

" Look here," said Steve disgustedly, " you're
a fakir! What do you suppose we want with a
relic like that? You said you had a Morris chair
and now you pull this thing out to show us. Is
that all you've got? "

" Oh, no, I've got a lot of good things in there,"
answered Durkin cheerfully, peering into the
gloomy recesses of the storeroom. " How about
some pictures, or a pair of fine vases, or '

LEFT END EDWABDS 115

" Have you another arm-chair? asked Steve
impatiently.

" No, this is the only one. I've got some dandy
cushions, though, for a window- seat. Let me show
you those." And Durkin was back again before
Steve could stop him. Tom was grinning when
Steve turned an indignant look upon him.

66 Morris chair! " growled Steve. " Silly
chump ! :

< ' Here you are ! : Durkin came proudly forth,
heralded by a cloud of pungent dust, and tossed
three cushions into the chair. ' * Look at those for
bargains^ will you? Fifty cents apiece and dirt
cheap."

" We don't want cushions," growled Steve dis-
gustedly. But Tom was examining them and
presently he looked across at his chum. " We
might buy these, Steve. They're not so
bad."

Steve grudgingly looked them over. Finally,
1 i We '11 give you twenty-five cents apiece for
them," he said.

6 i Twenty-five ! Why, they 're worth a dollar ! :

' ' All right, you keep them. ' '

Durkin hesitated and sighed. Finally, as the
boys showed a strong inclination to seek the stair-
way, " Give me a dollar for the lot," he said.

116 LEFT END EDWARDS

Steve questioned Tom with his eyes and Tom
nodded.

" All right," said Tom, " but it's more than
they're worth."

" You'd have to pay a dollar and a half if you
bought them new,' said Durkin. " Honest!
Now, about that chair —

" Nothing doing! : interrupted Steve deci-
sively.

"It's a good chair, and comfortable — say, sit
down and just try it, will you? : Durkin re-
moved the cushions and Steve, with a shrug, seated
himself. When he got out Tom took his place.
It was comfortable.

" How much? " asked Steve carelessly.

" Three-fifty, and dirt "

" Give you a dollar and a half.'

Durkin looked so pained that Tom quite pitied
him. But he only said ' patiently : "You don't
want to buy, you fellows; you're looking for gifts.
That chair at three dollars is a real, genuine bar-
gain, and '

" You said three and a half before," Tom cor-
rected.

" Did I? Well, it ought to be three and a half,
but you may have it for three, even if I lose money
on it."

LEFT END EDWAEDS 117

" No fear," grunted Steve. " We'll split the
difference and call it two."

" Make it two-fifty and it's yours."

' ' Couldn 't do it. Two or nothing. ' '

" All right," said Durkin placidly. " Take it
along. Now let me show you '

" No, sir! : laughed Steve. " You don't show
us another thing, Durkin. Pile the cushions on
here, Tom, and take hold."

" Wait till I lock this door and I'll give you a
lift," said Durkin.

Between them they got the chair upstairs and
outdoors. Then Steve paid three dollars to Dur-
kin and the transaction was completed.

' * Thank you, ' ' said Durkin. l ; And, say, if you
want anything else, you come and see me. I've
got a lot of good stuff down there. And if you
want to sell anything any time I'm your man.
I'll pay you good prices, fellows. So long.'

The two boys felt rather conscious as they car-
ried the chair along the Row, but although they
passed a good many fellows on the way, no one
viewed their performance with more than mild in-
terest. As they were about to lift their burden
through the entrance of Billings, however, the
door opened from inside and a tall boy with a
Varsity football cap on the back of his head al-

118 LEFT END EDWAKDS

most ran into them. Drawing aside to avoid them,
his eyes fell on the chair and he stopped short.

" Back again! " he exclaimed delightedly.
" Good old article. Where 'd you find it, fel-
lows? "

" Bought it from a fellow named Durkin, in
Torrence,'1 replied Steve.

" So ' Penny ' had it! " The chap lifted the
cushions heaped on the seat of the chair and
viewed it interestedly. " Well, you got a chair
with a history, ' ' he said. ' ' That belonged to me
three years ago. I bought it from a fellow named
Lansing, and he got it second-hand from a shop in
White Plains. I sold it to Spencer Morris and I
suppose Penny got it from him. And the old ar-
ticle looks 'most as good as new! Do you mind
telling me how much you paid for it!

" Two dollars," said Steve. " He wanted
three at first."

The tall chap laughed. ' t Two dollars ! What
do you know about that? I paid a dollar and a
half for it and sold it to Morris for a dollar. I'll
bet Penny didn't give Spencer more than fifty
cents for it. He's a wonder, he is! Those
cushions aren't bad. I'll give you a half for the
red one."

" We don't want to sell, thanks," said Steve.

LEFT END EDVf AKDS 119

" Well, if you do, let me know. I'm in 4. My
name's Fowler.' And he nodded and went on.
Up in their room, when they had set the arm-
chair down and placed it to their liking, Steve
said:

66 Think of that long-haired idiot getting two
dollars out of us for this thing. I've a good mind
to go back and tell him what I think of him."

" What's the difference? " asked Tom. "It's
a perfectly good chair, and if we hadn't met that
Fowler chap we'd never known we'd been stung.
It's worth two dollars, anyway, no matter what
Durkin paid for it. ' '

11 I suppose it is,' ' granted Steve. " And it is
comfortable. Look here; we'll have to have an-
other one now, or we'll be scrapping to see who
gets this! "

' ' Not if we can find a cushion for the window-
seat,' said Tom. " We might see some more of
those fellows you have on your list."

" To-morrow,' said Steve. " It's almost sup-
pc-r time. I guess we didn't do so badly for three
dollars. Wasn't it funny, though, we should have
run into a fellow who used to own it? Wonder
who Fowler is."

" I saw him at the field this afternoon," replied
Tom. " I guess he's on the first team. We could

120 LEFT END EDWAEDS

have made sixteen cents if we'd sold him the
cushion he wanted. '

" You're as bad as Durkin! : laughed Steve.
' i Wonder why he called him ' Penny, ' by the way.
The fellow had a regular second-hand shop down
there, didn't he? Do you suppose all that truck
in there belonged to him 1 ' '

* * I don 't know. I know one thing, though, and
that is that I'm mighty glad I don't room with
Durkin and have to listen to that fiddling of his ! :

11 That's not much worse than your snoring,'
replied Steve unkindly.

The next day further search revealed a cushion
which just fitted the window-seat, not surprising
in view of the fact that the window-seats through-
out the dormitories were fairly uniform in size.
The cushion cost them two dollars. It was cov-
ered with faded green corduroy and in places was
pretty well flattened out by much service. But it
answered their purpose and really looked quite
fine when in place. Tom cast doubts on the posi-
tive assertion of the seller that it was filled with
genuine hair, but Steve said that didn't matter as
long as it was comfortable. They piled their three
pillows on it and stretched themselves out on it,
one at a time, and voted it good enough for any-
one. There was a good deal of dust in it, but, as

LEFT END EDWAEDS 121

Steve said, if they were careful about getting up
and down they wouldn't disturb it ! By this time
Number 12 began to look quite sumptuous. They
had placed several framed pictures and many pho-
tographs and trinkets against the walls and had
draped the tops of the chiffoniers with towels.
They had also made up a list of things to bring-
back with them after the Christmas holidays, a list
that included all sorts of articles from a waste-
basket to an electric drop-light. The latter they
had not been able to find in their bargain-hunting
and could not purchase in the village even if they
had sufficient money. Their pocketbooks were
pretty lean by the time they had been there a
week, for, beside the expenditures for furnishings,
they had, between them, paid two dollars for a
year's subscription to the school monthly, and had
made quite an outlay for stationery. Tom, in fact,
was practically bankrupt and had sent an " S. 0.
S.," as he called it, to his father.

Meanwhile, every afternoon save Sunday they
donned their togs and toiled on the gridiron. Mr.
Eobey was already bringing order out of chaos
and the sixty-odd candidates now formed a first,
second and third squad. Steve and Tom both re-
mained in the latter for the present, nor did Tom
entertain much hope of getting out of it until he

122 LEFT END EDWAKDS

was dropped for good. Steve had made some-
thing of a reputation as a player at home, and his
former team-mates there firmly expected to hear
that he had made the Brimfield Varsity without
difficulty and was showing the preparatory school
fellows how the game ought to be played. Tom,
too, expected no less for him, and perhaps, if the
truth were known, Steve entertained some such
expectations himself! But Tom wasn't deceived
as to his own football ability and was already won-
dering whether, when he was dropped from the
'varsity squad, he would be so fortunate as to
make his hall team.

But there was a surprise in store for both of
them. The first cut came about ten days after
the opening of school, and the candidates dwindled
from sixty-odd to a scant fifty. Steve's surprise
lay in the fact that he was not promoted to the
second squad, Tom's to the even more startling
circumstance that he survived the cut !

Eric Sawyer had been relieved from his superin-
tendence of the awkward squad and had gone to
his old position of right guard on the first team.
The third squad was now under the care of a youth
named Marvin, a substitute quarter-back on last
year's second team. He was a cheerful, hard-
working little chap and the " rookies " took to

LEFT END EDWAEDS 123

him at once. He was quick to find fault, but
equally quick to applaud good work, and under his
charge the third squad, composed now of some
fourteen candidates, began to smooth out. A half-
hour session with the tackling dummy was now
part of the daily routine and many a fellow who
had thought rather well of himself suffered humili-
ation in the pit. Steve was one of these. Tack-
ling proved to be a weak point with him. Even
Tom got better results than he did, and every af-
ternoon Steve would scramble to his feet and wipe
the earth from his face to hear Marvin's patient
voice saying: " Not a bit like it, Edwards. Don't
shut your eyes when you jump. Keep them open
and see what you're doing. Once more, now; and
tackle below the knees.' And then, when the
stuffed figure had been drawn, swaying crazily,
across the square of spaded turf once more, and
Steve had leaped upon it and twisted his arms des-
perately and convulsively about it, " That's a lit-
tle better,' ' Marvin might say, " but you'd never
stop your man that way."

Steve was getting discouraged about his tack-
ling and a little bit incensed with Marvin. " He
takes it out on me every time,' he confided to
Tom one afternoon after practice. " Lots of the
fellows don't do it a bit better and he just says

124 LEFT END EDWAEDS

6 Fair, Jones ; or * That's better, Freer,' and
that's all there is to it. When it comes my turn,
he just makes up his mind I'm not going to do it
right and then rags me. Didn't I do it just as
well as you did to-day, Tom?

Tom, intensely loyal though he was, had to shake
his head. " Maybe you did, Steve; I don't do it
very well myself, but you — you don't seem to get
the hang of it yet. You will, of course, in a day
or two. I don't believe Marvin means to rag you,
though; he's an awfully decent fellow.'

But Tom's day or two stretched into a week or
two, and one by one fellows disappeared from the
awkward squad, some to the private walks of life
and the consolation of hall football and some,
fewer in number these, to the squad ahead.
Brimfield played its first game of the year one
Saturday afternoon with Thacher School, and
came through with flying colours. But Thacher
presented a line-up considerably younger and
lighter than Brimfield 's, and the victory brought
no great glory to the Maroon-and-Grey. Steve
and Tom watched that contest from the side-line,
Tom with absorbed interest and Steve rather dis-
gruntedly. His visions had not included any such
situation as this !

That evening Steve made his first big mistake.

CHAPTER XI

6 ( HOLD ^EM, THIRD ! ' '

THE term was a fortnight old when Thacher went
down in defeat, 10 to 3, and by that time both
Steve and Tom had made acquaintances here and
there, and so when, after study hour that Satur-
day night, Steve announced carelessly that he was
" going around to Hensey to see a fellow," Tom
took it for granted that his chum was off to look
up some new friend. Perhaps, since they usually
made calls together, he wondered a little that
Steve didn't ask him along, but he didn't mind
being left out on this particular occasion since he
was having a good deal of trouble just then with
trigonometry and wanted to put in more time on
Monday's lesson.

When Steve entered Hensey he passed into the
first corridor and knocked on the door of Number ,

7. The card there held the names : i ' Andrew Lor-
ing Miller — Hatherton Williams." A voice bade
him enter and Steve walker] in. Andy Miller and
his room-mate were both in, Andy sprawled on the
window-seat, which was ranch ' too short for his

125

126 LEFT END EDWAKDS

long body, and Williams seated at the study table.
Andy jumped up as the visitor entered.

' ' Glad to see you, Edwards, ' ' he said cordially.
" Shake hands with Williams. Hat, this is Ed-
wards of the fourth. Sit down, won't you!

Williams, who was a heavy, dark-complexioned
youth of eighteen with a flat nose and a broad
mouth, shook hands politely, murmuring some-
thing that Steve took to mean that he was pleased
to meet him, and sank back to his seat. Steve took
the easy-chair that Andy pushed forward.

" Well, how are you? : ' asked the football cap-
tain genially. " Haven't run across any more
confidence-men, I hope."

Steve smiled none too heartily and cast a glance
toward Williams. But the latter 's blank expres-
sion showed that the allusion meant nothing to him
and proved that, as far as Williams was concerned,
Miller had kept his promise of secrecy.

" No, not yet," answered Steve. " I thought
I'd just drop in a minute and call.'

" Of course. Glad you did. How's your
friend? "

" Tom! He's fine, thanks. I — he wasn't
through studying, so I didn't wait for him.'

"And how's football going?" asked Andy.
" Getting on pretty well? "

LEFT END EDWAEDS 127

" I think so. Not so very well, though. I- -I
don't seem to please Marvin very well with tack-
ling. ' '

" Oh, you'll get onto that all right," said Andy
cheerfully. " Fact is, I don't think a fellow ever
really learns much at the dummy. It's dumping a
chap in real playing that shows you what's wanted.
Don't you think so, Hat? "

" Dummy practice is a good thing,' answered
Williams morosely.

He sat tilted back on the chair, hands in pockets,
staring at the floor. He seemed a gloomy sort of
fellow, Steve thought, and was relieved when
Williams added : ' ' Guess I'll run over to Johnny's
for a minute," and, muttering something about be-
ing glad to have met the visitor, found a cap and
wandered out.

" I suppose,' said Steve, when the door had
closed, " it's necessary for a fellow to learn how
to tackle, but it seems to me that if you aren't
awfully good at it you might get a chance to show
what you can do besides that.'

" I guess I don't quite understand what you
mean," responded Andy.

" I mean that if I can't tackle the dummy well
enough to please Marvin," answered Steve a trifle
bitterly, "I do as well as lots of other fellows,

128 LEFT END EDWARDS

and — and it doesn't seem fair to keep me back just
for that. Lots of fellows 'have been taken on to
the second squad that can't play as well as I can,
Miller."

"Oh! I see." Andy's eyes narrowed a little
and he looked at Steve more intently. " You
mean that you aren't getting a fair show, Ed-
wards? "

" It doesn't seem so to me. I played with my
high school team for two years at left end and —
and did pretty well. Of course, I don't say that
I'm as good as some of the fellows here, but I do
think that I'm as good as — as a lot of them; and a
heap better than three or four that have gone to the
second squad lately. I don't get a chance to show
what I can do where I am now, Miller. Marvin
doesn't even let me into signal drill more than half
the time, and then he puts me at half or tackle
and I've never played either of those places. And
when I told him so the other day he just laughed
and said that one place was as good as another on
the third! And he rags me every day about my
tackling and — and I don't think it's fair! If he
will give me a chance I'll pick up tackling all right.
You say yourself that a fellow learns it more from
playing than from dummy work.'

" So I did," said Andy thoughtfully. Then,

LEFT END EDWAKDS 129

after a moment: " Look here, Edwards, I think
youVe got a wrong idea in your head. If Mar-
vin isn't satisfied with your tackling, it's because
you don't do it right. Marvin's a good man and
he knows football. Now, if you expect to play end
you ought to know how to tackle, Edwards. .
What's the good of getting down the field, no mat-
ter how fast you may be, if you can't stop the man
with the ball when you get there 1

i( I can stop him! I've played for two years

and "

" What you've done before, Edwards, isn't any
criterion with us. You may have been a regular
wonder in — what's the place? Tanner stown-
" Tannersville. I don't say I was a wonder,

but "

' * Just a minute ! You may have been a star on
your high school team and yet not worth a copper
cent to us, Edwards. I never saw your team play,
but it's pretty likely that their brand of football
and ours are different.'

' ' I think we play as good football as you fel-
lows played to-day," said Steve.

" Maybe. I'm not especially proud of the game
we put up this afternoon. But that isn't the sort
of football we play in mid-season, my friend. I'm
sorry you think you aren't getting a fair deal,

130 LEFT END EDWAEDS

Edwards, but you mustn't expect me to interfere
with Marvin. I couldn't do it. The most I can
do is give you a little piece of advice which you
won't care for probably. It's this: Do as you're
told to do, Edwards, and do it as hard as you know
how ! Just as soon as you show Marvin that you
are ready to go into the second squad, you'll get
there. And don't get it into your head that Mar-
vin has it in for you or doesn't know what he is
doing. Marvin's a particularly bright young
man. If he wasn't he wouldn't have the third
squad to weed out, for that's a job that requires a
whole lot more patience and brains than any other
job I know of on a football field.'

Andy paused, and Steve, who was gloomily re-
garding a scarred knuckle, made no reply.

66 Use your head, man,' continued the captain
in a lighter tone. " You don't suppose, do you,
that we are letting anything good get by us as
long as we've got eyes to see with? Not much!
You probably have an idea that Marvin is keeping
you off the second. He isn't. You're keeping
yourself off. Mull that over, Edwards. And
don't — don't do this again.'

Steve looked a question.

11 I mean don't come to me or to Mr. Eobey with
any hard-luck stories. It isn't done. If I didn't

LEFT END EDWAKDS 131

know you a little, Edwards, I'd think you were
pretty poor stuff. But I guess you didn't stop
to consider how it would look. As you have done
it, I'm glad you came to me instead of Mr. Eobey.
He wouldn't have liked it a bit." After a pause :
" How's Hall getting on? "

" Pretty well, I guess," replied Steve. He
stood up and frowned at the green globe of the
reading lamp for a moment. Then, "I'm sorry I
said anything, Miller," he remarked. " I guess
it wasn't quite a fair thing to do. Only I thought
— maybe :

" You thought," said Andy cheerfully, " that
perhaps I'd give you a lift. Didn't you, Ed-
wards! "

" I suppose so."

" In other words, you wanted me to advance
you over the next man on the strength of our ac-
quaintance. Sounds as though you had rather a
punk impression of me, Edwards."

"I haven't! I- -I suppose, though, I didn't
stop to figure it out much. It seemed to me that
Marvin wasn't giving me a fair show, and here
it is the last of September already, and I'm just
where I started "

" That's your fault, not Marvin's," responded
Andy with a smile. He walked over and laid a

132 LEFT END EDWAEDS

hand on the younger boy's shoulder. " Brace up,
Edwards," he said kindly. " Don't waste your
time looking for favours. Don't want them.
Buckle down and grit your teeth and just show
Marvin and the rest of us that you're so good he
can't keep you on the third ! That's your line, old
man. And now, just as a bit of encouragement,
I'll tell you that Eobey and I have noticed your
work in the field and we've liked it. You carry
yourself like a veteran and you follow the ball
well, and we both expect big things from you some
day. Perhaps you won't make good this year, but
there's next year and the year after. Put your
nose back on the grindstone, Edwards, grin hard
and tell Marvin to turn faster ! :

"All right," laughed Steve. " Thanks. I
guess you're right. And — and I'm not sorry now
I came.'

" Good! Now sit down again and let's have a
chin. How do you like the school! Have you met
many of the fellows yet?

" You're making the same mistake, Edwards,'
said Marvin the next Monday afternoon. He
spoke a trifle wearily. " Get your body in front
of the runner and not at one side. Bind his legs
together with your arms, then block him with your
body and lift him back. If you do that he's got

LEFT END EDWAEDS 133

to stop, and when he falls he will fall towards his
own goal and not yours. Try it over now.'

And when Steve had tried it over, Marvin
glanced at him sharply. It seemed to him that for
almost the first time the candidate had really
tried ! He hadn't made a clean tackle, but he had
profited by the instruction that had been heaped
upon him for two weeks, and little Marvin men-
tally patted himself on the back and was very
pleased with himself, for Marvin, although he
would probably never play through a big game,
and knew it, was as unselfishly devoted to the in-
terests of the team as any fellow there.

66 That's a heap better, Edwards,' he said ea-
gerly. " Now see if you can't do it just right the
next time.'

After that it seemed to Marvin that Steve tried
harder and it seemed to Steve that the little quar-
ter-back was more appreciative. On Tuesday, as
the squad jogged away from the tackling pit, Mar-
vin said:

" Edwards, let me see you after practice, will
you? "

Steve, assenting, examined Marvin's face doubt-
fully. A week ago he would have expected trouble
from such a request, but to-day Marvin's face held
only good-will and a sort of eager friendliness,

134 LEFT END EDWAEDS

and while Steve wondered more than once during
the remainder of practice what Marvin wanted of
him he had no unpleasant forebodings.

There was to be a game on the morrow, the only
mid-week contest of the season, and the first squad
was released early. That gave Coach Eobey a
chance to give undivided attention to the second
and third and he made the most of it. He and
Andy Miller, the latter trailing a grey blanket
after him, joined the third squad when the first
team and substitutes had trotted away to the gym-
nasium and at once displayed a flattering but em-
barrassing interest. The Third was practising
signals, eleven men in the line-up and two or three
more following and watching. Marvin was driv-
ing them from a position at the rear, occasionally
darting into the line, to correct a fault or illus-
trate a play. Unfortunately, Carmine, who was
at quarter, noticed the coach's advent and immedi-
ately got flustered. When two plays had gone
wrong Mr. Eobey said :

4 i Marvin, you get in there and play quarter for
a minute and give that man a chance to remember
his signals. You come back here and look on,

son."

After that the squad ran through plays with vim
and snap. Now and then there was a mix-up, but

LEFT END EDWAEDS 135

the signals went pretty well. After each play the
coach or Captain Miller, or sometimes both, criti-
cised and explained. The plays were few and sim-
ple; straight plunges by the backs with an occa-
sional forward pass; but almost every time the
critics found some fault to correct. Steve was
playing at left tackle, fighting valiantly against an
imaginary opponent, and once, trotting back to his
position after a short charge over the turf, lie-
caught the eyes of Andy and Mr. Bobey fixed on
him speculatively. He hoped as he settled down
again and listened for the signals that Captain
Miller had not told the coach of that visit on Sat-
urday night! He wanted to forget that himself
and he wanted Andy Miller to forget it,

" That'll be all, Marvin," said Mr. Eobey pres-
ently. He clapped his hands. " Everyone in,
please ! : he called. The players flocked to the
bench and picked up sweaters and blankets, while
Mr. Eobey and Andy conversed over the coach's
little black book. Finally: " We'll have a short
scrimmage, fellows," he announced. " Second
squad take the east goal and kick off to the third.
Pick cut your men, Brownell. You too, Marvin.
Who do you want to start? "

It was the first scrimmage for the third squad
fellows and they raced on eagerly. Steve was

136 LEFT END EDWARDS

sent in as left tackle again and Tom beside him
at guard. The pigskin soared away from the toe
of a second squad forward, was gathered in by a
third squad half-back near the twenty-yard line
and was down five yards further on. " Line up,
Third! : ' piped Carmine shrilly. " Give it to 'em
hard now ! ' '

There wasn't the finished skill displayed by the
Varsity team, but there was enough enthusiasm to
almost make up for the lack of science. Back
came the ball, the forwards sprang together, a
half darted past right tackle, spinning like a top,
faltered, went on, was stopped short by the Sec-
ond's backs and borne back, grunting " Down!
Down ! : with all the breath left in his body.

" Second down! : proclaimed Joe Lawrence,
the manager, jumping into the melee. " Six to

' '

Mr. Eobey and Andy Miller followed the teams
closely, watching and shouting directions, the
coach on the third squad side and Andy behind
the second.

" Good work, you fellow! : applauded Andy,
darting up to slap the half on the back and send
him back to his place breathless but grinning,
" That's the way to do it ! Now, then, once more.
You've got six to go. Let me see you get it.

LEFT END EDWARDS 137

Play lower, you fellows in the line! Get down
there ! Lift 'em and throw 'em back ! That 's the
ticket ! ' '

But the gain was scant and Carmine walked
back to kick.

" Get through and block this! " panted the
second's quarter, dodging back and forth for a
likely opening.

* ' You fellow on the end there ! ' ' cried Andy.
' i Play back further and stop that tackle ! :

" Watch for a forward pass! " warned a sec-
ond squad back. " Spread out, Billy! :

" Hold 'em! " shouted Carmine.

Then came the signals, back sped the ball — a
poor pass — the second came tearing through, Car-
mine dropped the ball and swung his leg and away
it floated. A second squad back caught it near
the side-line, tucked it under his arm and started
back. The third squad's right end had been
blocked and now, eager to make up for lost time,
he overran and missed his tackle entirely and the
second's back came speeding up the field near the
side-line, a hastily-formed interference guarding
him well. Ten yards, fifteen, twenty, and then
Carmine wormed through and brought the runner
to earth.

" That's one on you, right end," said Andy

138 LEFT END EDWAKDS

sternly. "You got boxed to the king's taste
that time. Now, third, see what you can do on
the defence/

" Draw your line in, Carmine,' ' called Marvin.
" Look where you are, man! The ball's almost
on the twenty yards! Peters, close up there I
Now push 'em back, third! :

" Who's that right end, Dick? " asked Andy of
Marvin.

" Chap named Holt. He isn't very good.'

" How would it do to try Edwards there? He
looks clever.'

" That's his position, Andy, but the kid can't
tackle. I'll give him a try, though. That's rot-
ten, third! Blaisdell, where were you then?
For the love of mud, man, watch the ball! Five
yards right through you! Now get back there
and stop them ! :

" Second down, five to go,' called Lawrence.
" You left end on the second, you were off-side
then. Next time I'll penalise you. YTatck out
for it."

" Same formation! : piped the second's quar-
ter. i i Make it good, fellows ! Let 's score now ! :

" Hold 'em, third! Don't give 'em an inch.

Get down there, Peters! "

" Third down! " called Lawrence a moment

LEFT END EDWARDS 139

later. " You've got three and a half to go,
second! "

" That's the stuff! : cried Carmine jubilantly,
dealing blows of approval on the bent backs of the
forwards. " That's the way to stop 'eni! Now
once more, third! "

Then, " Fourth down and a yard and a half to
go," announced Lawrence.

' ' Kick formation ! ' ' called the attacking quar-
ter. " Simmons back! :

11 Block this ! Block it ! Get through now, fel-
lows! "

" Hold hard there, second! " There was a mo-
ment of silence. Then the ball shot back. Sim-
mons caught it waist-high, dropped it, kicked and
went down under the charge of the desperate sec-
ond squad players. But the ball sailed over the
cross-bar and the second had scored.

" That'll do, Holt," said Marvin. " Edwards,
you play right end. Saunders! " A substitute
struggled out of his sweater and came racing on.
" Go in at left tackle, Saunders. Pearse, you'd
better kick off."

The game went on, the second squad bringing
the pigskin back twelve yards on the kick-off and
then hammering through for fifteen more before
the third forced them to punt. Carmine caught

J.40 LEFT END EDWAEDS

on liis thirty-five yards, made a short gain and was
downed. Twice the third got through for a yard
or two and then Carmine again fell back to kick.
This time the pass was a good one and Carmine
got off an excellent punt that went over the head
of the opposing quarter-back and bobbed along
toward the goal. The left half scuttled to his as-
sistance and, when the ball was in the quarter's
arms, threw himself in front of the first of the foe.
But that particular adversary was canny. He
twisted aside, leaped over the stumbling half and
dived for the runner. It was a poor tackle and
the man with the ball struggled on for three yards
after he was caught, but the ball was down on the
second's twenty-seven yards, and Steve, picking
himself up from the recumbent enemy, heard Mar-
vin shouting: " A rotten tackle, Edwards, but fine
work down the field! " And, " Good stuff, you
end! : approved the coach, while Tom, beaming,
patted him ungently on the back.

The scrimmage was over a minute later, and,
although the second had triumphed by that goal
from the field, the third trotted back to the gym-
nasium feeling very well pleased with themselves.
They had had their baptism by fire and had ac-
quitted themselves well. Steve and Tom, panting
but happy, had almost reached the gymnasium

LEFT END EDWAEDS 141

when Steve recollected his engagement with Mar-
vin.

" I've got to go back,' ' he said in dismay. " I
promised Marvin to see him after practice.'

" There he comes now," said Tom, nodding
toward where the little quarter was approaching
with Mr. Eobey and Andy Miller. Steve stopped
beside the path and Tom fell back to wait for him.

" I forgot you wanted me to wait, Marvin,'
said Steve apologetically, as the trio came up.

" Oh, that's all right, Edwards. I forgot my^
self. Another day will do just as well. I didn't
know we were to have scrimmage to-day. '

" You keep up that stuff you showed to-day,
Edwards," said Mr. Robey, " and we'll have you
on the second the first thing you know.' Then
his glance passed Steve to Tom. " You too, Hall.
I watched you. You're doing well. Keep it up.'

The three went on, and Steve and Tom silently
followed. Neither spoke until they reached the
steps. Then,

"I'm awfully glad," said Tom.

" So am I,' replied Steve heartily. " Bet you
you'll make the second before the week is out."

" I meant about you, Steve," said Tom simply.

CHAPTER XII

CANTERBURY ROMPS ON — AND OFF

BUT existence at Brirafield Academy wasn't all
football, by any means, nor all fun. There was a
lot of hard work mixed up with the play, and both
Steve and Tom found that an immense amount of
study was required of them. They each had thirty
recitations a week, and in both Greek and Latin
their preparation at high school had, not unnat-
urally, been deficient. That meant hard sledding
for a while. Tom realised the fact before Steve
would, and so spared himself some trouble. Steve
resented the extra study necessary and for the
first fortnight or so trusted to luck to get him
through. And for a time luck stood by him. He
had a way of looking wise in class that imposed
for a while on " Uncle Sim," as Mr. Simkins was
called, but after Steve had fallen down three or
four times the instructor scented the truth of the
matter and then Steve's life became a burden to
him. Mr. Simkins took delight, it seemed, in call-
ing on him at the most unexpected moments until,
one day, in sheer desperation, Steve gave utter-

142

LEFT END EDWARDS 143

ance to the answer " not prepared/ That was
to Uncle Sim what a red rag is to a bull ! There
was a scathing dressing-down then and there, fol-
lowed hy a visit that evening from Mr. Daley.
Steve was secretly uneasy, for more than one story
of summary justice on the part of the Greek and
Latin instructor had reached him, but he pre-
sented a careless front to the Hall Master. Mr.
Daley was plainly eager to help, but, as usual, he
was embarrassed and nervous, and Steve, who had

taken a mild dislike to him. resented his inter-

ference.

" The stuff's too hard,7 he said in answer to
Mr. Daley's inquiries. " Look at the lesson we
had to-day, sir; all that and this, over to here;
sight reading, too. And two compositions so far
this week! I just didn't have time for it last
night, and so when he called on me to-day I told
him I wasn't prepared. And then he — he ragged
me in front of the class and gave me a page and a
half to write, beside to-morrow's lesson. I can't
do it, and that's all there is to it !"

" Er — yes, yes, I see. I'm sorry, Edwards.
Now, let us have a look at this. Yes, there's quite
a lot of it. You — ah — you didn't have much Latin
before vou came here. I take it! "

V /

" Had enough," growled Steve, " but nothing

144 LEFT END EDWAKDS

like this. I've had Caesar and some Cicero. I
never had any luck with Latin, anyway.' And
Steve viewed the open book with distaste.

" It's the quantity, then, you find — ah — diffi-
cult,' said Mr. Daley. " As far as grammar is
concerned, I take it you are — ah — well grounded,
Edwards? "

" I suppose so. But look at the length of the
lesson we have! "

' l Yes. Very true. But, of course, to complete
a certain amount of work in the year it is — ah-
necessary to do quite a good deal every day. Now
maybe you — ah — haven't been really setting your
mind on this. I know in my own case that I very
often find myself — ah — skimping, so to speak; I
mean going over a thing without really getting the
— ah — the meat out of it. I'm almost certain that
if you really settled your mind on this, Edwards,
that you'd get along very well with it. Suppose
now that you give twice as much time to it to-
night as you usually do. If some other study
must suffer, why, let it be your French and I will
let you by to-morrow if you aren't well prepared.
And — ah — I wish when you've been over this
you'd come down and let me — ah — go over it with
you lightly. I think — I think that would be an ex-
•cellent idea, Edwards. "

LEFT END EDWAEDS 145

" Oh, I'll try it," grumbled Steve, " but it isn't
any use. And look at what I've got to translate
for him ! ' '

11 Yes, yes, I see. Well — ah — bring your book
down after awhile and we'll see what can be done.
How are you getting on, Hall? "

" Pretty well, sir. I find it a bit stiff, too,
but maybe after awhile I'll get the hang of
it."

66 That's the way to talk! " exclaimed the in-
structor approvingly. " That — ah — that is the
right attitude, Hall. Make up your 'mind that it
will come and it will come. We all have our — our
problems, and the only way to do is to — ah — face
them and ride straight at them. So often, when
we reach them, we find them — ah — we find them so
very much more trivial than we had supposed.
They're like — like hills seen from a distance that
look terrifically steep. When we — ah — reach
them we find them easy grades after all. You
see what I mean? Yes, yes. Well, I shall expect
you in my study later, Edwards. I want you —
both of you, that is — to realise that I am very
eager to be of assistance at any time. Possibly I
can't help very much, — but — ah — I am most will-
ing, boys."

" Silly chump," growled Steve when the door

146 LEFT END EDWAKDS

had closed behind Mr. Daley. " I wish — ah — he'd
— ah — mind his own — ah — business ! :

But Tom didn't smile. " I think the chap
means to be awfully decent, Steve,' he said
thoughtfully. " The trouble is, I guess, he's
scared to death of the fellows. You can see that
in class.'

"He's a regular granny,' replied Steve.
11 Wish he had this stuff to do. I guess he
wouldn't be so light and airy about it! "

" You'll go down and let him help you, though,
won't you? " asked Tom anxiously.

" Oh, I suppose so. He can do the whole
thing if he wants to. Where is my diction-
ary? "

With Mr. Daley's help, freely offered and
grudgingly accepted, Steve weathered that crisis.
And secretly he was grateful to the Hall Master,
though he still pretended to believe and possibly
did half believe that the latter was a sort of molly-
coddle. Tom told him indignantly once that since
Mr. Daley had been so awfully decent to him he
ought to stop poking fun at him. To which Steve
cheerfully made answer that even a mollycoddle
could be decent at times !

Brimfield played Canterbury High School on a
Wednesday afternoon in early October and had a

LEFT END EDWARDS 1

good deal of a scare. Canterbury romped on to
the field like a bunch of young colts, and continued
to romp for the best part of three ten-minute
periods, long after Brimfield had decided that
romping was no longer in good taste ! Led by a
small, wiry, red-headed quarter-back, who was
likewise captain, and directed from the side-line
by a coach who looked scarcely older than the big
youth who played centre for them, the Canterbury
team took the most astounding liberties with foot-
ball precedents. They didn't transgress the rules,
but they put such original interpretations on some
of them that Mr. Conklin, who was refereeing, and
Mr. Jordan, instructor in mathematics, who was
umpiring, had their heads over the rules-book
nearly half the time ! Now and then they would
march to the side-line and consult the Canterbury
coach. " Where do you get your authority for
that play? " Mr. Conklin would ask a trifle ir-
ritably. Thereupon, silently but with a twinkle in
his eye, the coach would gravely take the book,
flip the pages, lay a finger on a section and re-
turn it.

" Hm," Mr. Conklin would say. " Hm; but
that seems to be in direct contradiction of another
rule over here ! ' '

" Quite likely," the coach would reply indiffer-

148 LEFT END EDWARDS

ently. " There are quite a few contradictions
there. Of course, you may accept either rule you
like, gentlemen.'

Disarmed in such wise, the officials invariably
decided the play to be legal, and Quarter-back Mil-
ton, of Brimfield, would protest volubly and get
very, very red in the face in his attempt to carry
his point and, at the same time, omit none of the
respect due a faculty member! It was hard on
Milton, that game, and several times he nearly had
apoplexy.

Then, too, Canterbury did the most unexpected
things at the most inopportune moments. When
Brimfield expected her to rush the ball she was
just as likely to get off a kick from close forma-
tion. When the circumstances indicated an attack
on the short side of the field Canterbury's backs
swung around the other end. When a close for-
mation was to be looked for she swung her line
half across the field, so confusing the opponents
that they acted as though hypnotised. The for-
ward pass was to Canterbury a play that afforded
her infinite amusement. She used it in the most
unheard of locations; in mid-field, under the
shadow of her own goal, anywhere, everywhere
and almost always when least expected. At the
end of the second period Brimfield trotted away

LEFT END EDWABDS 149

to the gymnasium dazed and tired of brain, with
the score 7 to 0 against her.

The surprising thing about the visitors was that
they played as though they were just having an
afternoon of good fun. They romped, like boys
playing leap-frog or follow-my-leader. They
romped up the field and they romped clown the
field and, incidentally, over and through and
around their opponents. And the more care-free
and happy Canterbury became, the more anxious
and laboured grew Brimfield. The Maroon-and-
Grey reminded one of a very staid and serious
micldle-aged party with a grave duty to perform
trying to restrain the spirited antics of a small boy
with no sense of decorum !

When the second half began, Canterbury added
insult to injury. Instead of booting the pigskin
down the field in an honest and earnest endeavour
to obtain distance, she deliberately and with malice
aforethought, dribbled it on the bias, so to speak,
toward the side-line. Benson, right end, should
certainly have got it, but he was so perplexed that
he never thought of picking it up until a Canter-
bury forward had performed the task for him and
had raced nearly twenty yards down the field ! It
was rr> unprecedented thing to do, or, at least, un-
precedented at Brimfield, and the audience voiced

150 LEFT END EDWARDS

its disapproval strongly. But as the ball had gone
the required ten yards there was nothing to do
but smile — a trifle foolishly, perhaps — and accept
the situation. And the situation was this : Canter-
bury had kicked off and gained over thirty yards
without losing possession of the ball ! But in one
way that play was ill-advised. Brirnfield had
stood all sorts of jokes and pranks from the enemy
with fairly good grace, but this enormity was too
much. Brimfield was peeved! More than that,
she was really angry ! And, being angry, she for-
got that for twenty minutes she had been out-
played and started in then and there to administer
a licking to the obstreperous small boy.

Even then, however, Canterbury continued to
romp and enjoy herself. She found hard sled-
ding, but she worked down to Brimfield 's eight-
yard line before she was finally halted. Then her
right half romped back for a try at goal and joy-
ously booted the ball. But, to the enormous relief
of the onlookers, the ball went under the bar in-
stead of over, and Canterbury romped back again.
That third period was very evenly contested,
Brimfield, smarting under a sense of wounded dig-
nity, playing well together and allowing Canter-
bury no more opportunities to attempt scores.
The visitors, still untamed, sprang strange and

LEFT END EDWARDS 151

weird formations and attacks. A favourite trick
was to start a play without signals, while one of
her men was ostensibly tying a shoe-lace yards
away or requesting a new head-guard near a side-
line. It invariably happened, though, that the
shoe-lace was tied in time to allow the youth to get
the ball on a pass and attempt a joyous romp
around the opponent's end. There was no scoring
in the third period, but the whistle blew with the
pigskin down on Canterbury's twenty-five
yards and Brimfield with four to go on third
down.

As there was no practice that afternoon, Steve
and Tom saw the game from the grand stand, with
two cronies named Draper and Westcott. Dra-
per's first name was Leroy and he was called Roy.
He was a tow-haired youngster of fifteen with
very bright blue eyes and a tip-tilted nose that
gave him a humorously impertinent look. He, like
Steve and Tom, was a Fourth Former. His home
was in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and, while Pitts-
burg was a good hundred miles from Tanners-
ville, the fact that they were citizens of the same
glorious commonwealth had drawn he and Steve
together. Harry Westcott was a year older and
came from a small town in Connecticut. He was
Roy's room-mate in Torrence. He had a slim,

152 LEFT END EDWAEDS

small-boned body and a good-looking face with an
aquiline nose and a pair of very large soft-brown
eyes. His dark hair was brushed straight back
from his forehead and was always very slick.
Harry was what Roy called " a fussy dresser :
and affected knickerbockers and golf-stockings,
negligee shirts of soft and delicate hues of laven-
der or green or blue and, to quote his disrespect-
ful room-mate once more, " symphonic ties.'
Harry was the embodiment of aristocratic ease
and always lent a " tone " to any gathering. He
maintained an air of what he probably considered
well-bred composure and tabooed enthusiasm.
Harry never declared that a thing was " bully :
or " fine and dandy "; he mildly observed that it
was " not half bad." This pose amused him,
doubtless, and entertained his friends, and under-
neath it all he was a very normal, likable chap. It
was Boy Draper who broke the strained silence
that had endured until the whistle put an end to
the third period.

" I wouldn't give a cent for Canterbury's
chances in the next period," he said. " Look at
Andy's face, fellows. It has the i blood-lust : on
it. When Andy looks that way something has just
got to happen! "

" He looks annoyed," assented Harry.

LEFT END EDWAEDS 153

" You'd be annoyed if you had your lip cut the
way his is, " chuckled Eoy.

;< Do you think we'll beat them? asked Tom
anxiously.

" Nothing can save them,' ' replied Eoy conclu-
sively. " Andy has his dander up."

i i It took him long enough to get it up, ' ' grum-
bled Steve. " He let those fellows run rings
around us in the first half."

" That's his foxy way. Now he's got them all
tired out and we'll go in and rip 'em up. You
watch! "

" There's Marvin going in for Milton,' an-
nounced Tom. " Say, those chaps haven't made
a change in their line-up yet.'

" One," corrected Harry. " They put in a new
right guard last period. They're a funny lot,
seems to me. You'd think they were having the
time of their lives."

" I like that, though," said Eoy. " After all,
you know, this thing of playing football is sup-
posed to be amusement."

" It's a heap more like hard work, though,' ' re-
plied Harry. " Not that I ever played it much."

" Did you ever play at all? " asked Eoy.

' ' Once or twice at grammar school. It was too
fatiguing, though. ' '

154 LEFT END EDWARDS

"I'll bet it was," chuckled Roy. "I'd like to
see you playing, old thing,'

" I did, though; played right half-back. A fel-
low stuck his elbow into my face and I knocked
him flat. Captain said it was part of the
game, you know, and I shouldn't have done
it. I said that any fellow who bumped my
nose would have to look for trouble. Then the
umpire put me off and the game lost a real
star. ' '

" Here we go," said Steve. " Now let's see if
they can carry it over.'

They didn't, however, just then. Canterbury
held finely in the shadow of her goal and Marvin's
forward pass to Captain Miller went out at the
twelve-yards. But Canterbury was forced to punt
a moment later, and Brimfield took up the march
again. On the adversary's thirty-yard line, with
six to go on the third down, Norton, full-back, at-
tempted an impossible drop-kick — he was standing
over forty yards from the cross-bar — and made it
good.

" What did I tell you! " demanded Eoy, dig-
ging Steve with his elbow.

" That's only three points, though,'1 answered
Steve doubtfully. " We couldn't make a touch-
down."

LEFT END EDWARDS 155

" It isn't over yet/' said Eoy confidently.
" We're getting better all the time.'

Canterbury gave the ball to Brinifield for the
kick-off and Fowler booted it down to the op-
ponent's fifteen yards. Andy Miller was under it
all the way and upset an ambitious Canterbury
back before he was well started. Canterbury
tried two plunges and then punted from her
twenty-five-yard line to Brimfield's fifty. Marvin
caught and brought the stand to its feet by reeling
off twelve yards across the field before he was
downed. Then Brimfield found herself and went
down the gridiron by steady plunges, plugging the
Canterbury line for good gains from tackle to
tackle. Norton, at full-back, was the hero of that
period. Time after time he took the pigskin and
landed it for a gain. Marvin, cool and heady, ran
the team beautifully, and when four minutes of
playing time remained, Brimfield was again knock-
ing at Canterbury's door, the pigskin on the lat-
ter's eighteen yards.

" First down! " proclaimed Roy triumphantly.
" Here's where she goes over, old thing! :

66 Let her go," replied Harry. " I'm watch-
ing. ' '

66 I hope they don't try another silly field-goal,'
muttered Steve.

156 LEFT END EDWARDS

" Not on first down, they won't. Bully work,
Norton! Did you see it? Three yards easily! "

Then Marvin himself cut loose for four around
left end and the Canterbury coach hustled three
substitutes on. But Brinifield was not to be de-
nied now. It was first down on Canterbury's
seven yards, and, with the spectators yelling like
Indians, Kendall, right half, took the ball on a de-
layed pass, found an opening outside right tackle
and slipped through and over the line for six more
points.

Captain Miller kicked goal and the score stood
10 to 7. Another minute of play followed, with
Brinifield again pushing the high school team be-
fore her, and then the game was over and the
quartette on the stand thumped each other elatedly
— all save Harry — and ambled down to join the
throng that spread over the field on its homeward
way.

" What did I tell you! " asked Roy. " You
can Jt fool your uncle ! ' '

" You hate yourself, don't you? " drawled
Harry. " Come on over to the room, you fel-
lows."

Canterbury, having cheered the victor whole-
heartedly, romped home.

CHAPTER XIII

SAWYER VOWS VENGEANCE

MITER HILL SCHOOL followed Canterbury the next
Saturday and was an unexpectedly weak op-
ponent. The contest was slow and lifeless and
dragged its weary length along until almost twi-
light. Miter Hill's players were in poor physical
condition and, since the afternoon was warm and
close, made a poor showing. The weather af-
fected Brimfield, too, although she was not as sus-
ceptible to injury as the other team. Miter Hill
was forever getting hurt, it seemed, and the audi-
ence which had braved a remorseless sun and a
horde of blood-thirsty midges soon began to
grumble.

The game was further slowed down in the last
two periods by the substitution of half the mem-
bers of the second and third squads for the Ma-
roon-and-Grey. Even Tom had a three or four-
minute experience on the Varsity, something
which he had long ceased hoping for, while Steve
played nearly all of the fourth period at right end.
He did very well, there, although Miter Hill was

157

158 LEFT END EDWARDS

too weak in all departments of the game to afford
any of her opponents a fair test. Toward the last
the contest degenerated into more or less of a
farce, Miter Hill tuckered and played out, and
Brimfield, with a line-up of third and fourth sub-
stitutes, fumbling and mixing signals and running
around like a hen with her head off !

By that time those who had remained so long
began to view the game as what it really was, a
comedy of errors, and got lots of fun out of it.
When Peters, at centre, passed the ball at least
two feet above the upstretched hands of Harris,
who wanted to punt, and at least nine youths raced
back up the field in pursuit of it, shoving, tripping,
falling, rolling, and when it was Peters himself
who finally dropped his one hundred and seventy-
odd pounds on it, the onlookers rocked in their
seats and applauded wildly. Later on another
dash of humour was supplied when Carmine
poised the ball for a forward pass only to dis-
cover that no one of his side was in position to
take it. The quarter-back shouted imploringly,
running back and across the field, dodging two or
three of the enemy and by some miracle holding
the ball out of harm's way all the while. When,
at last, thoroughly desperate, he heard someone
shout from across the field to throw the ball, he

LEFT END EDWAEDS 159

threw it, and not until the catcher had reeled off
twenty yards or more toward Brimfield's goal did
Carmine discover that he had been cruelly de-
ceived by the Miter Hill right end! Even Mr.
Eobey, who had been viewing the game rather
grimly, had to swing on his heel to hide a smile at
that fiasco. But, if the subs didn't do much in
the way of attack, they at least held the enemy
from crossing their line, and the weird contest at
last came to a close with the one-sided score of
26 to 0.

On Monday there was a fine shake-up, for the
Miter Hill game, if it had not held any thrills, had
at least shown up many faults, individual and
otherwise. Several second squad men went to the
first as substitutes, Fowler was shifted from left
tackle to left guard on the first and two members
of the third squad were advanced to the second.
These latter were Freer, half-back, and Hall,
guard. Tom was both surprised and delighted,
while seriously doubting the coach's wisdom. La-
ter, when he found that Steve had not secured pro-
motion as well, most of his delight vanished.

" I don't see why they put me on the second,'
he said, " and left you on the third. I don't play
half the game you do, Steve."

Steve tried hard to be gracious, but only partly

160 LEFT END EDWAEDS

succeeded. " I dare say they want guards and
don't want ends," he replied.' " Of course you've
been doing good work, Tom, and deserve promo-
tion and I'm awfully glad you've got it, but, just
the same, I don't think I'm getting a square deal.'

" I don't either! I wish they'd left me alone
and taken you on. Peters says Kobey will be dis-
banding the third squad in a week or so, too. Of
course they'll put you on the second before that,
though. '

" I don't believe they will,' replied Steve mo-
rosely. " I dare say I'll be dropped entirely. I
thought I was getting on pretty well, but Marvin
evidently doesn't think so. I'm getting kind of
sick of it, anyway, Torn. I wish I'd stayed at
home. I could have if I'd made a good hard
kick. ' '

That was a hard week for the 'varsity, for
Coach Kobey had every man on the team, with the
possible exceptions of Miller and Innes, guessing.
Men came in from the second squad, were tried
out and usually let go again. All sorts of shifts
in the line and back-field were tried. On Wednes-
day, Eric Sawyer, who had been looked on as a fix-
ture at right guard, found himself ousted by Gaf-
fertv, from the second, and a member of the

*/ / 7

" bench brigade." Sawyer didn't like that at all.

LEFT END EDWAKDS 161

It was a terrific blow to Ms pride and self-esteem,
and for many days he was like a bear with a sore
head. As a matter of fact, although Sawyer
didn't suspect it, his deposal was in the nature of
a taste of discipline. Sawyer had been too cer-
tain of his place and had grown careless. At the
end of a week he went back again, with the warn-
ing that he would have to show more than he had
been showing if he was to stay there. It was
while he was still decorating the bench, however,
that Steve again fell foul of him.

The unseasonably warm weather held well into
the middle of October, and it was one evening a
day or two after Sawyer's removal from the regu-
lar line-up that Steve and Tom, rather fagged
from an hour's study in a close room, picked up
Eoy and Harry and went over to the gymnasium
for a dip in the tank. The swimming tank was a
favourite resort of the younger fellows between
eight and ten at night, but, for some reason, the
older boys seldom appeared there in the evenings.
To-night, though, when the quartette, having
changed into swimming trunks, reached the tank
they found five upper-class fellows swinging their
bare legs from the side of the pool and amusing
themselves by criticising the antics of the young-
sters. There was Eric Sawyer, Jay Fowler and

162 LEFT END EDWARDS

three others whom neither Steve nor Tom knew
save by sight. The tank was well populated, for
the warmth of the evening made the thought of
cool water very agreeable, and there was much
noise and splashing going on.

Steve and Harry went in from the spring-board
at the deeper end of the pool, while Tom and Eoy
dived from the floor. A couple of tennis balls
were flying around in the tank and the newcomers
were soon taking their parts in the fun. Pres-
ently the group of older fellows, having grown
tired of guying the " kids," dived into the water.
Getting possession of one of the balls, they tried
to keep it to themselves, and soon there was a
merry and good-natured battle on between the five
big chaps on one side and the younger occu-
pants of the tank on the other. The echoing
room rang with laughter and excited cries as the
contending sides swam and floundered for the
possession of the tennis ball. The big chaps had
their hands full, for they were outnumbered four
to one, but age and strength counted for them and
not infrequently a youngster, rather than undergo
a ducking at ungentle hands, yielded the ball and
swam away with squeaks of terror. But there
were others who fought valiantly enough, taking
punishment laughingly when it came and pressing

LEFT END EDWAEDS 163

the older fellows closely. Steve was one of the
more daring of the enemy and never hesitated to
dispute the possession of the ball with anyone.
Once when it came skipping along half the length
of the tank, he went after it hand over hand, only
to miss it when Eric Sawyer reached it an instant
ahead of him. Sawyer, grinning, drew back the
hand holding the tennis ball.

" Want it, kid! " he asked.

Steve, guessing what was coming, dived, but he
was not quick enough and the ball landed with a
round smack on his right ear. A wet tennis ball,
thrown from the distance of a few feet, is capable
of hurting considerably, and Steve, dashing the
water from his face, felt very much as though he
had been kicked by a mule and had difficulty in
keeping the tears from his eyes.

* < Get it ? " laughed Sawyer.

" Yes, and so will you," gasped Steve. The
ball lay bobbing about a yard away and he grabbed
it. Sawyer turned and struck out across the tank,
only his head above water. Steve, thoroughly
angry, aimed at him, changed his mind and swam
after him, to the awed delight of the others. Saw-
yer, thinking he had removed himself from danger,
turned at the side of the tank to look back. The
next thing he knew the ball struck him fairly on

164 LEFT END EDWARDS

the nose, and, with a howl of pain and surprise, he
disappeared under the water.

" Swim, Edwards! " shrieked the youngsters.
" He'll get you! "

Steve did turn away, but it seemed too much like
running and so he paused, treading water there,
while the angry face of Sawyer popped into view
again. The ball had bounded away and been cap-
tured by one of the youngsters, but Sawyer didn't
look for it. With a leap he started toward Steve.
The latter realised that Sawyer meant to wreak
vengeance, and that the matter had got past the
stage of fun. Here, it seemed, was a time when
discretion was the better part of valour, and Steve
dived.

Fortunately, he was a good swimmer. Turning
quickly under water, he raced toward the far end
of the tank. Dimly he heard shouts and laughter
above, but he didn't come to the surface until
twenty long strokes had taken him far away from
where Sawyer, at a loss, was casting about the
middle of the tank for him. His reappearance
was heralded by shouts of applause from the
younger fellows, many of whom, scenting real
trouble, had scrambled out of the water. Sawyer,
warned of Steve's whereabouts, looked down the
tank, saw him and started pell-mell after him.

LEFT END EDWARDS 165

Again Steve went under, swam cautiously toward
the side until be could see the white tiles within
reach and then edged back the way he had come.
He tried to reach the shallow end of the tank be-
fore taking breath, but the effort was too great,
and when he stuck his head out for an instant he
found that those at the edge of the tank had been
following his under-water progress and were
shouting and laughing down at him from above.
More than that, however, their interest had ap-
praised Sawyer of his whereabouts, and even as
Steve, blinking the water from his eyes and re-
plenishing his lungs, looked about him, his pur-
suer almost reached him.

Scorning concealment now, Steve made straight
for the shallow end of the pool. Swimming like
his was a revelation to many of those who saw it
and a hearty burst of applause followed him all
the way to the ladder, which he gained several
yards in advance of Sawyer. Steve darted up the
rungs and ran to the side of the tank, the fellows
scattering out of his path. Sawyer pulled him-
self out of the water and followed, puffing with
anger and exertion.

" Oh, let him go, Eric," advised Fowler.
" You can't catch him."

" Yes, forget it," advised others.

166 LEFT END EDWARDS

But Sawyer had no idea of forgetting it. " I'll
break his silly head for him,' he growled as he
followed Steve around the edge. Then began a
chase that was both exciting and amusing. Egged
, on by the laughing spectators the two boys raced
around the pool, Steve managing to keep always
one lap ahead, slowing down when Sawyer showed
signs of faltering and sprinting when the
older boy, gathering fresh energy, went on
again. It was a stern chase with a venge-
ance and might have lasted all night or until
one or the other dropped in his tracks had not
one of Sawyer's comrades taken a hand in the
game.

Steve, breathing hard but good for many more
circuits of the track, came trotting along one side
of the pool where the youth in question stood
with Fowler. There was a clear space of three
feet between him and the edge, but just as Steve
drew abreast the older chap stepped forward in
his path, and Steve, trying to dodge around him,
slipped on the tiling and fell sidewise into the
water. Sawyer, with a grunt of triumph, plunged
in from the opposite edge and was on Steve in a
twinkling.

" Now, you fresh kid," exclaimed Sawyer an-
grily, seizing Steve's neck in a big hand as soon

LEFT END EDWAEDS 167

as his head came up, " you're going to get what's
coming to you ! :

Steve, battling for breath, gasping and gurgling,
tried to wrench away, but the clasp on his neck was
too strong for his efforts and down he went,
squirming and struggling, until his head was un-
der water. He managed to reach around and get
a grip of Sawyer's bathing trunks, but that was
small advantage. The big fellow had him at his
mercy. Steve's head was throbbing when at last
he was allowed to lift it out of the water again,
gasping for breath. But the grip on his neck
didn't relax. He was conscious that the laughter
had died away, conscious of Sawyer's grinning
face beside him, and then down he was plunged
again without warning, just managing to draw a
little breath into his aching lungs before the water
closed over him. It seemed that his tormentor
held him down longer this time, and when, at last,
he found the lights in his eyes again and could
breathe once more, he was ready to give up the
struggle. He had long since released his hold on
Sawyer's trunks, and now his hands were clasped
desperately about the other boy's wrists. And
yet when Sawyer's growling voice said in his ear,
" Had enough, kid? Beg my pardon? " Steve
managed to shake his head.

168 LEFT END EDWAEDS

" Want more, eh I asked Sawyer. " All
right, kid! : The clasp on his neck tightened
again and he felt himself being once more thrust
downward. And then, suddenly, he was free, and
when, fighting his way back to the surface, he
looked dazedly, there was Tom clinging to Saw-
yer's neck, thrashing and squirming.

" You let him be, you big bully! " Tom was
saying. " You let him be! "

61 Let go of my neck, you silly little fool! "
gasped Sawyer, striving to break the boy's
hold.

" You let him be! " gurgled Tom, half-drowned
but clinging like a limpet. ' ' You let him be, you
big bully ! ' '

Then the two went under and Steve, recovering
his breath, wrenched them apart somehow and
pulled poor Tom to the side of the tank. Sawyer,
breathing with difficulty after Tom's choking
grasp about his neck, floundered to the edge, got
a sustaining grip on the rim of the tank and
glared angrily at the two boys.

11 I'll get you for this, you smart Alecks," he
declared chokingly. " You're too fresh, both of
you. Don't you know better than to grab a fellow
around the neck in the water, you fool kid?

But Tom was too far gone to answer. " That's

LEFT END EDWARDS 169

what you did, isn't it? " Steve demanded.
" That's a funny way to talk! "

" It is, is it? " sneered Sawyer. " I'll show
you something that is funny some time, and don't
you forget it! "

Still growling, he swam away toward the nearer
ladder, while Steve, with Roy and Harry and
others helping, lifted Tom out of the tank and then
followed himself. Tom was very, very sick there
for a minute and the younger fellows were prop-
erly sympathetic and indignant. Presently they
half carried Tom back to the locker room and
helped him into his clothes, and then, Roy and
Harry in attendance, Steve conveyed him back to
Billings and laid him on his bed, a very weak but
now quite cheerful Tom.

" He nearly drowned me, didn't he! "he asked
with a grin. " But I choked him good, you bet!
Bet you his old neck will be sore for a week, fel-
lows! "

" You want to keep away from him for awhile,'
said Harry with a direful shake of his head.
He's a mean chap when he's mad."

" Huh! " grunted Tom. " So'm I! "

CHAPTER XIV

A LESSON IN TACKLING

ONE direct result of that affair in the tank was
that Steve found himself something of a school
celebrity because of his swimming prowess.
Within a few days he had good-naturedly agreed
to give instruction to some half-dozen acquaint-
ances and might have taken on a half-dozen more
had he had the time for it. But there was only an
odd hour or two during the day for swimming and
he soon found that, although he got a good deal
of fun out of instructing the others, it was taking
too much of his time. It was Roy's suggestion —
Roy being one of the most enthusiastic pupils—
that those who wanted instruction should be on
hand at a given hour each day. The suggestion
was adopted, and Edwards 's Swimming Class
soon became a recognised institution. Five
o'clock was the hour set, at which time the tank
was not much used, and Steve, having returned
from football practice, donned swimming trunks
and repaired to the pool where he usually found
from four to a dozen boys awaiting him, since, by

170

LEFT END EDWAEDS 171

attending to them all at once, he could look after
a dozen as easily as a few. Most of the pupils
were boys of from thirteen to seventeen, although
there were two older fellows in the class, Jay
Fowler and Hatherton Williams. Both were
Sixth Formers and both were football men. Mr.
Conklin, the physical director, gave enthusi-
astic endorsement and encouragement. Brim-
field had never supplied instruction in swim-
ming, something which the director had long
regretted, and Mr. Conklin, could he have
had his way, would have made attendance
at Steve's swimming class compulsory for
the younger boys and so have instituted a new
feature in the course of physical instruction. But
Steve, willing to teach a few fellows who could
already swim the finer points of the science, balked
at teaching the rudiments to a half -hundred water-
shy youths who would have to be coaxed and
coddled. Mr. Conklin tried his best to persuade
him, but Steve refused firmly.

They had a whole lot of fun during that swim-
ming hour. Fowler and a younger chap named
Toll were the more accomplished performers in
the class, barring Steve himself, and every ses-
sion ended with several very earnest races in
which Fowler, allowing Toll a five-yard handicap,

172 LEFT END EDWARDS

usually nosed out the younger boy in a contest
of four times the length of the tank. Then there
was generally a free-for-all, the fellows lining up
on the edge of the pool, diving at the word from
Steve and swimming to the further end, where,
after touching the wall, they turned and hustled
back to the start. Sometimes when football prac-
tice had been more than usually gruelling, Steve
stayed out of the water and instructed from the
floor, but more often he went in with the others
and followed them in their practice swims. Nat-
urally it was the fancy diving and the racing
strokes that most of the fellows wanted to learn,
but Steve, who had never in his life before tried
to teach anyone anything, displayed a good deal
of hard common-sense as an instructor and in-
sisted that each of his pupils should master one
thing thoroughly before taking up another. The
result was that, barring one or two fellows who
would probably in any case have failed to be-
come expert swimmers, the class made really re-
markable progress, and there came a time, al-
though it was considerably later in the school
year, when both Jay TTowler and Hatherton Wil-
liams could equal most of Steve's feats.

Tom started with the class, wisely deciding
after his experience with Eric Sawyer that the

LEFT END EDWARDS 173

ability to keep one's head out of water was a fine
tiling to have. But Tom was not cut out for a hu-
man fish and soon gave it up. Eoy Draper learned
fairly well. He tried to induce Harry to join the
class, but Harry preferred to stay with Tom and
look on from the floor. When winter set in,
Steve's class increased in numbers until in Janu-
ary he was conducting the natatory education of
more than two dozen fellows. It was Mr. Conk-
lin who arranged for an exhibition the latter part
of the winter and Steve was very proud of his
pupils' work on that occasion. It was held one
Saturday afternoon and everyone attended, includ-
ing even " Josh,' more formally known as Mr.
Joshua Fernald, the principal. There was fancy
diving and swimming, a short game of water
polo and all kinds of races, beside which Steve
showed some six or eight different strokes, swam
the length of the tank under water and performed
other quite startling feats to the delight of his
audience. Mr. Fernald shook hands with him aft-
erwards and said several very nice things. But
all this is far beyond my story, and I am only
telling of it because it led the following autumn
to the installation of a swimming instructor at
Brimfield and the addition of swimming to the list
of " required studies " for the boys of the four

174 LEFT END EDWARDS

lower forms. The instructor came to the school
twice a week and put in two very busy hours there.
So you see that fracas between Steve and Eric
Sawyer that evening strangely enough resulted
in important consequences and, since a knowledge
of swimming is a most useful one, worked for good.
But there were other consequences of that
fracas as well, and I must get back to those.
Larchville Academy followed Miter Hill on Brim-
field's schedule and administered the first defeat
of the season to the Maroon-and-Grey. It wasn't
so much that Brimfield played poorly as that
Larchville played unusually well. The visitors
presented an aggregation of big, well-trained
youths who, most of them having been on their
team the previous year, were far in advance of
Brimfield in the matter of season development.
Larchville 's performance was what one might ex-
pect in November, but scarcely looked for in the
second week of October. Her men played to-
gether all the time and her team-work stood out
in strong contrast to that of Brimfield, who had
scarcely begun as yet to develop such a thing.
The final score was 17 to 3, and the only consola-
tion was found in the fact that Larchville 's end of
it might well have been much larger. Brimfield 's
three points came as the result of one really bril-

LEFT END EDWABDS 175

liant advance for half the length of the field fol-
lowed by a neat place-kick by Williams. The rest
of the game was very much Larchville, and Brim-
field was on the defence most of the time.

And, to give credit where it belongs, it was Eric
Sawyer who, back in his position at right guard,
held his side of the line firm on two anxious occa-
sions when Larchville was striving to hammer out
touchdowns under the shadow of her opponent's
goal. On the whole, Brimfield played good foot-
ball that clay and no one justly came in for adverse
criticism. Captain Miller, at left end, was spec-
tacular under punts and played his usual hard,
steady game. Innes at centre was impregnable
until the final period. Williams, if a trifle weaker
than his opponent, made up for it by scoring the
three points for his side. Benson, at right end,
was less successful than Captain Miller, but was
good on the defence. The back-field, although in-
clined to go it " every man for himself,' showed
up well, especially when the enemy was in pos-
session of the ball. Milton, the first-choice quar-
ter-back, ran the team like a general, while Nor-
ton, the big full-back, proved the only consistent
gainer through the line. In spite of the fact that
she had met with defeat, Brimfield found en-
couragement in that contest, and, after the first

176 LEFT END EDWARDS

few minutes of regrets, spent the rest of the day
unstintedly praising her warriors.

There was only light practice the following
Monday for those who had taken part in the Sat-
urday game, a fact which once more allowed Coach
Eobey to give a good deal of attention to the sec-
ond and third squads. Steve was playing right
end regularly now on the third, and Tom was alter-
nating at left guard on the second. The third
squad was now down to only eleven members, and
when, after a hard hour of signal work and funda-
mentals, the second and third were lined up for a
ten-minute scrimmage, Marvin had to borrow sub-
stitutes as needed from the second. There was
no scoring that day, but there was an awful lot of
hard work. Steve made one or two good plays
down the field, but, as usual, was weak on stopping
the runner when he reached him. After they were
dismissed, Marvin stopped him as he was trotting
off with the others.

11 I say, Edwards, are you very tired? he
asked.

" N-no, I guess not," Steve replied.

" Then I wish you'd stay out a few minutes
and let me try to show you about tackling.'
Steve glanced distastefully at the dummy and
doubtfully at Marvin. But the latter smiled and

"Lift !" instructed the quarter-back. "Lift me up and
yank my feet out from under me ! Use your weight
and throw me back !"

'iY

AS" ND

'TL -vg

LEFT END EDWARDS 177

shook his head. " Never mind the dummy, Ed-
wards, ' ' he said. l i We '11 have our fun right here.
I'm going to be the dummy and you're to stop
me. Did they take all the balls away! Never
mind, we'll imagine the ball. Now, first of all
I'm going to show you how I'd handle you if
you were the runner. Stand where you are,
please."

Marvin dropped in front of Steve and threw
his arms about his legs just above the knees.
11 There's your position, Edwards," he explained.
6 i You see I have my body in front of you. You 've
not only got to work against my grip around your
legs but you've got to push against my weight and
resistance. Try it.'

Steve did try it, but he could only shuffle an inch
or two.

" See? " asked Marvin. " Now, then, having
tackled you, it 's up to me to put you dowTn. If I
let you come forward of your own impetus you'll
fall toward my goal, and by stretching out your
arms you'll put the ball two yards nearer the goal
than where you stand. Of course you wouldn't
risk holding the ball at arms' length unless there
was a possibility of getting it across a goal-line
by doing it. But even if you hold the ball at your
stomach you'll gain a yard by falling forward.

178 LEFT END EDWAKDS

Now ray play is to throw you the other way — like
this!"

With a heave Marvin sent Steve toppling back-
, ward, much to that youth's surprise. Marvin
jumped lightly to his feet, held out a hand to the
other and pulled him up.

" See how it's done? " he asked cheerfully.
" Now you try it. Never mind diving; just drop
where you are on your hip. That's it! Swing
your arms around tight! Higher up, though.
Remember if you're playing end the rules prohibit
you from tackling a runner below the knees.
That's better. Now, then, over with me! :

But it wasn't so easy. Marvin, smuggling an
imaginery ball in his arms, struggled and twisted
and it was all Steve could do to keep him from
gaming ground, to say nothing of throwing him
back.

1 i Lift ! : instructed the quarter-back. l ' Lift
me up and yank my feet out from under me ! Use
your weight and throw me back ! :

But in trying to lift the other, Steve allowed
Marvin to slip past him and the quarter fell for-
ward instead of backward.

" Try again," said Marvin. "It's got to be all
one motion, so to say, Edwards. Get your man,
wrap your arms around him and heave. Some-

LEFT END EDWAEDS 179

times you can't do better than stop him. If he's
coming hard, you won't be able to put him back.
He's got to be more or less erect to make that go.
But do it whenever you can. Now, then, once
more! Down you go! That's the stuff! Bully
work! Don't be afraid of hurting me! Put me
back! "

Steve actually did it that time and was so
pleased that he was grinning all over his face
when Marvin scrambled to his feet again.

" That was a lot better. Once get the idea
fixed in your head, Edwards, and it'll come easy.
You'll do it without a thought. Once more now,
and put some ginger into it. Here I come ! ' '

Marvin walked a couple of steps forward, Steve
dropped and gripped his knees, heaved and over
went the quarter. A dozen times Marvin made
him practise it, and then,

" All right," he said. " Now I'm going to run
toward you, Edwards. I'm going to get by you
if I can, too. You've got to do your best to stop
me. Don't try any flying tackles, and remember
that you've got to have one foot on the ground
when you get me. All right now ! ' '

Steve was glad they had the gridiron practically
to themselves, for he cut a poor figure the first
three times that he tried to reach the elusive quar-

180 LEFT END EDWARDS

ter-back. Once Marvin caught him with a straight
arm and sent him toppling out of his path, once
Marvin dodged him completely, twirling on one
heel and darting past him beyond reach, and once
the little quarter-back wrenched himself loose af-
ter being tackled. But the fourth time Steve was
more successful, and after that he reached the run-
ner every time even if he didn't always stop him
short. Even when Steve had his arms gripped
tightly about Marvin's knees, the latter was al-
most always able to somehow make another yard
or two before he was walling to call " Down! :
But Steve learned more in that half-hour than
he had learned all the season, and when, after
awhile, the two boys, panting and perspiring
but satisfied with themselves, walked back to
the gymnasium, Steve had the grace to thank
Marvin.

i l That 's all right, ? ' replied the other. * ' I knew
you could play the game, Edwards, if you could
once get the hang of making a decent tackle. And
I knew, too, that the trouble with you was that
you'd just sort of made up your mind that you
couldn't learn, that you didn't understand what
I've been trying to show you. There won't be any
third squad after the middle of the week, Edwards,
and if you hadn't shown something more than

LEFT END EDWARDS 181

you Ve been showing in the tackling line I couldn't
conscientiously have sent you up to the second.'

" That was mighty decent,'1 muttered Steve.

" Well, you mustn't take it as a personal favour,
Edwards,' answered Marvin with a smile, " al-
though I'm glad to do it for you. You see, I don't
want to let any good material get away. And I
think you are good material, and if there was any
possibility of your being of use to the second squad
I wanted to get you there. Now, to-morrow we'll
have another go at it, and the next day too, and
every day until you can tackle a runner as well as
you can handle a ball or play in the line. Is that
a bargain! "

" Yes," replied Steve heartily. " And thanks,
Marvin."

, CHAPTER XV

STEVE WINNOWS SOME CHAFF

Two days later the third squad ceased to be and
all but four of its members retired to private life.
Of those four, one was Steve. Steve went on to
the second team as substitute end. With him went
Carmine, Peters and Saunders, while from the
second a batch of half-a-dozen youths disappeared.
That was the eighteenth of October. The candi-
dates who had survived this final cut were safe
to finish the season out. Of them some twenty-
four were on the Varsity and sixteen on the sec-
ond. The preliminary season was ended, and
with the next game, that with Benton Military
College, which was to be played at Hastings-on-
Sound, the serious work might be said to begin.
The second, under Brownell, became a separate
aggregation, moved to its own training table in
the dining-hall, had its own signals and practised
on its own gridiron. It even had its own coach,
for a graduate named Boutelle — soon shortened to
" Boots " — appeared on the scene and took com-
mand. " Boots " was a rather large man of

183

LEFT END EDWARDS 183

thirty-odd years who had graduated from Brim-
field before the days of football there. He had
learned the game very thoroughly, however, at col-
lege, and was enthusiastically eager to impart his
knowledge. He was a friend of Mr. Robey, and
it was understood that he was giving his services
as a favour to the head coach. But it was soon
evident that he was thoroughly enjoying it, and he
entered into his task with heart and soul. In fact
he was so anxious to develop a good team that one
of the first things he did was to unwittingly fall
foul of the faculty. The third day there he an-
nounced that until further notice there would be
morning practice between ten and twelve for all
who could attend it. Morning practice lasted one
day. Then faculty drew the attention of Mr.
Boutelle to the rule which forbade the use of the
athletic field to students during recitation hours.
Mr. Boutelle was disgusted and tried to argue
about it with the principal, but had to give in
finally. But in spite of being required to limit
practice to the afternoon hours, the second came
fast and there were some very pretty games be-
tween it and the Varsity in those days.

Steve started in as a second choice right end, a
chap named Sherrard having first claim to the
position. Tom was plugging along at right guard

184 LEFT END EDWAEDS

and doing well. He was a trifle light for the place,
but he was a steady player and a heady one and it
took him less than a fortnight to oust his rival
from the position. Tom was a surprise both to
himself and to Steve. Steve had never taken his
chum very seriously as a football player, probably
because Tom was not the spectacular sort, but he
was forced to acknowledge now that the latter had
beaten him at his own game !

The members of the second didn't see the Ben-
ton game for the reason that " Boots " wouldn't
consider it at all. What, waste an afternoon look-
ing on when they might be holding practice 1 Not
if he knew it! But the absence of some sixteen
members of the second team didn't keep Brimfield
from being well represented at that contest, for
most every other fellow in school journeyed across
to Hastings-on-Sound with the 'varsity and wit-
nessed a very good, if in one way unsatisfactory,
game. For Brimfield and Benton tussled with
each other through four ten-minute periods with-
out a score. Perhaps Benton had slightly the bet-
ter of the argument, although not many Brimfield-
ians would acknowledge it. At least, it is true
that Benton came nearer to scoring than her ad-
versary when, on Brimfield 's five-yard line, she
lost possession of the ball by a fumble. On the

LEFT END EDWAEDS 185

other hand, Brimfield tried one field-goal from an
impossible angle and missed.

The next Monday, with several of the
regulars out of the Varsity line-up, the
second won a 6 to 0 victory, and " Boots, "
choosing to ignore the 'varsity's weakness
on that occasion, requested the second to ob-
serve what could be accomplished by making the
most of their opportunities to practice ! The fel-
lows, quite as well pleased as their coach, although
not taking to themselves so much credit as he ac-
corded them, smiled and said, " Yes, sir,' very
politely and winked amongst themselves. But
they liked " Boots :'; liked him for his enthusi-
asm and for the tireless energy he displayed in
their behalf. If you can't make the 'varsity it is
at least something to be able to help develop it,
and that is what the second was doing, very loy-
ally and gladly. And when in the process of aid-
ing in its development it was possible to beat it,
the second shook hands with itself and was cock-o'-
the-walk for days after !

Steve, like most others on the second, had re-
linquished hope of getting on the 'varsity. A
month ago he would have scornfully refused to
consider anything less than a position on the first
team, but Steve had had his eyes opened not a lit-

186 LEFT END EDWAEDS

tie. There ivas a difference between the sort of
football played by Brinifield and the kind played
by the Tannersville High School team, and Steve
now recognised the fact. Perhaps he secretly still
thought himself deserving of a place on the Var-
sity— frankly, I think he did — but whereas a
month ago he would not have hesitated to make
the fact known, he had since learned that at Brim-
field it was not considered good form to blow your
own horn, as the saying is.

But if he was disappointed at falling short of
the final goal of his ambition, he was nevertheless
having a very good time on the second. There
was a lot of fine fellows there and the spirit of
camaraderie was strong, and grew stronger as the
season progressed. The second was perhaps al-
most as proud of their organisation as was the
Varsity of theirs, and when, the week after the
Benton game, they once defeated and twice tied
the other team, you might have thought they had
vanquished Clafiin, so haughty and stuck-up did
they become!

Steve played under a severe handicap that week,
for once more he and " Uncle Sim ; ' were at outs.
With Mr. Daley's assistance and encouragement,
and by a really earnest period of application on
his own part, he had successfully weathered the

LEFT END EDWAEDS 187

previous storm and had even been taken into Mr.
Simkins' good graces. But football is a severe
taskmaster, if one allows it to become such, and
what with a strong desire to distinguish himself
on the second — animated to some extent by the
wish to show Mr. Eobey what he had missed for
the Varsity — and a commendable effort to profit
by Marvin's teaching, he had soon begun to ease
up on his Greek and Latin, which were for him the
most difficult of his courses. And now " Uncle
Sim : ' was down on him again, as Steve put it, and
on the eve of the Cherry Valley contest he was in
a fair way to have trouble with the Office. Mr.
Simkins' patience, perhaps never very long, was
about exhausted. He had reason on his side, how-
ever, for Steve was by no means the only student
who was in difficulties at that time. On Friday
morning Mr. Simkins had indulged in sarcasm.

" Well, well," he said, leaning back in his chair
and folding his hands, " I dare say it is too much
to require you young gentlemen to study when
it is such fine weather for football. What a pity
it is that lessons and play conflict, is it not, Wil-
son? "

Wilson was too canny to make audible reply,
however, and the instructor proceeded blandly.

" I wonder if Mr. Fernald would postpone reel-

188 LEFT END EDWAEDS

tations until after you have finished football for
the year. I think I'll suggest it to him. For,
really, you know, this sort of thing is only wasting
my time ; and yours too, young gentlemen, for you
might be out kicking a leather-covered bag of wind
around the ground instead of sitting here cud-
gelling your poor brains — eh? Let us say heads,
rather. The evidence is too slight to warrant the
use of the first word — cudgelling your heads, then,
trying to i fake : lessons you've never looked at.
I sympathise with you deeply. I commiserate. I
— I am almost moved to tears. My heart goes out
to you, young gentlemen.'

Mr. Simkins looked so sad and woebegone that
the older boys, who knew him well, trembled in
their shoes. The room was very silent. With
Mr, Simkins the storm was always in proportion
to the calm, and the present calm was indeed por-
tentous. The instructor fought for a moment with
his emotions. Then he sighed.

" Well, until we have permission to discard
recitations, I presume we must go on with them,
such as they are." His gaze roved sympathetic-
ally over the class, most of whom showed a strong
desire to escape his attention. Finally, " Ed-
warcls," he said softly and, as it seemed to Steve,
maliciously, ' ' let us proceed with the dull and un-

LEFT END EDWARDS IS9

timely lesson. Kindly translate the tiresome ut-
terances of this ignorant man who preferred wis-
dom and eloquence to athletics and football, Ed-
wards. You may begin where your — hm —
brilliant predecessor regretfully left off. For the
moment, pray, detach your thoughts from the ver-
dant meadows and the sprightly football, Edwards.
And — ah — don't, please don't tell me that you are
not prepared. Somehow that phrase afflicts ray
ears, Edwards, and were you to make use of it I
should, I fear, be driven to — ah — strong measures.
Now, Edwards, if you will be so kind. '

Well, Steve was not prepared, as it happened,
but he knew better than to say so, and, putting on
an expression of confidence and pleasure as though
Mr. Simkins had offered him the rarest of privi-
leges, he plunged bravely into a paragraph of Cic-
ero 's Orations. But it was hard going, and he
was soon stumbling and hesitating, casting about
desperately for words. A long, deep sigh trav-
elled from the platform.

" That will do, Edwards," said Mr. Simkins sor-
rowfully. " Your rendering is novel and inter-
esting. It is, possibly, an improvement on the
original matter, but the question very naturally
arises, Edwards, whether we have the right to im-
prove on Cicero. Of course he had his limita-

190 LEFT END EDWAEDS

tions, Edwards, and his faults, and yet " — Mr.
Sinikins shook his head slowly and thoughtfully —
" on the whole, Edwards, I think perhaps we
should accept him as we find him, viewing his
faults with a leniency becoming great minds, tol-
erating much, Edwards, for the sake of the — ah —
occasional golden kernel to be detected in his mass
of chaff by such giant intellects as yours. You do
detect an occasional kernel of sense, Edwards!

Steve, miserably pretending a huge interest in
the cover of his book, forebore to reply.

" You don't! Mr. Simkins seemed both
pained and surprised. " But I assure you they
are there, Edwards, few in number perchance, but
really to be found. Perhaps — hm — perhaps it
would be a pleasant, at all events a profitable, oc-
cupation for you to make an earnest search for
them. If you will see me after class, Edwards, I
shall esteem it a pleasure to indicate a few pages
of chaff for you to winnow. Thank you. Pray be
seated.'

That was why Steve was in anything but an en-
viable frame of mind that Friday evening. Mr.
Sinikins had pointed out exactly four pages of
chaff for his winnowing, and the winnowing was
to be done with pen and ink and the " occa-
sional golden kernels " indicated by Steve on the

LEFT END EDWAKDS 191

margin of his paper. Steve was angry and de-
pressed.

" What's the use of trying to get along with
him? he demanded of Tom. " He has it in for
me, and even if I had every lesson down pat he'd
be after me all the time just the same. If it wasn't
for — for the team I'd quit right now.'

" Don't be a chump/ replied Tom good-na-
turedly. " You know yourself, Steve, you haven't
been studying lately.'

66 Well, where's a fellow to get time to study? :
asked Steve. " Look at what I have to do this
evening ! ' '

' i You won 't do it if you don 't sit down and get
started," said his chum soothingly. " You tackle
the other stuff and then I'll help you with that
Latin. I guess we can get through it together."

" It'll take me an hour to do those six pages,'
grumbled Steve. " I wish Simkins would choke ! :

Steve got by on Saturday, with difficulty, but
had a hard time of it when the instructor requested
him to give his reasons for selecting certain pas-
sages of the immortal Cicero as being worthy of
especial commendation. The rest of the class
found it very amusing, but Steve failed to discern
any humour in the proceedings. Fortunately, Mr.
Simkins was merciful and Steve's martyrdom was

192 LEFT END EDWARDS

of short duration. After that, for a few days at

•

least, Steve's Latin was much better, if not the
best.

The game with Cherry Valley deserves only
passing mention. Viewed beforehand as a severe
test of the Erimfield team's defence, the contest
proved a walkover for the Maroon-and-Grey, the
final score standing 27 to 6. Cherry Valley was
weak in all departments of the game, and her sin-
gle score, a touchdown made in the fourth period,
was hammered out when all but two of the Brim-
field players were first and second substitutes. Of
Brimfield's tallies two were due to the skill of
Hatherton Williams, who twice placed the pigskin
over the bar for field-goals, once from the twenty-
five yards and once from near the forty. The
Brimfield backs showed up better than at any time
in the season, and Norton and Kendall gained al-
most at will. There was still much to criticise
and Mr. Eobey was far from satisfied with the
work of the eleven as a whole, but the school in
general was vastly pleased. Coming a week after
that disappointing 0 to 0 game with the military
academy, the Cherry Hill game was decidedly en-
couraging.

So far Eric Sawyer had treated both Steve and
Tom with silent contempt whenever he encoun-

LEFT END EDWARDS 193

tered them, although his scowls told them that they
were by no means forgiven. Naturally, since Eric
was on the Varsity and the two chums on the
second, they saw each other practically every aft-
ernoon on the field or in the gymnasium. But it
wasn't difficult to avoid a real meeting where so
many others were about. Koy Draper pretended
to think that Eric was only biding his time, wait-
ing for an opportunity to murder the two in cold
blood, and delighted to draw gruesome pictures of
the ultimate fate of his friends.

" I guess what he will really do," he said on the
Sunday afternoon following the Cherry Valley
game when he and Harry Westcott were in Num-
ber 12 Billings, " is to decoy you both over to the
Sound some fine- day and drown you."

" Just how will he manage it? " asked Tom,
who was tumbling everything in the room about in
his search for a mislaid book.

" He will probably tie heavy weights to your
necks and drop you into a deep hole in the ocean, '
replied Roy promptly. " Then you will be eaten
by sharks.'

" And what would we be doing all the time he
was tying the weights to us? " asked Steve sar-
castically.

194 LEFT END EDWARDS

11 Nothing, because he'd chloroform you first,'
returned Roy triumphantly, much pleased with his
readiness. " You'd be insensible.'

" Meaning without sense,' murmured Harry.
" It wouldn't take much chloroform.'

" Huh! Don't you talk! " said Steve. " You'll
never have brain-fever ! ' '

" Ha ! : ' scoffed Harry. " Sarcasm, the refuge
of small intellects! "

" Come on,' said Tom. " It's nearly three-
thirty. Bother Sawyer, anyway. He's not troub-
ling me any. '

" That's all right," replied Roy, as he got up
from the window-seat, " but when you wake up
some fine morning and find yourself bathed in your
own life's blood you'll wish you'd listened to me.'

" I can't help listening to you. You talk all the'
time. Besides, I shouldn't call it a fine morning
if I woke up dead. I- -I'd think it was a very dis-
agreeable day! Are you coming, Steve?

" I suppose so," replied Steve with a groan.
" I wish practice was in Halifax, though. I'm
tired to-day. ' He got up from his bed, on which
he had been lying in defiance of the rules, and
stretched himself with a yawn.

" You'll be tireder when the first gets through
with us," said Tom grimly. " Robey will sick all

LEFT END EDWAEDS 195

his subs on us to-day, I guess; and subs always
think they have to kill you just to show how good
they are.'

66 If anyone tries any funny-business with me
to-day he will get in trouble,' growled Steve as
he pulled his cap on and followed the others
through the door. i i I just hope someone will try
it on! "

Tom's prediction proved correct. The first-
string men were given easy practice and faced the
second for only ten minutes in scrimmage, Then
they were trotted off to the gymnasium and the
'varsity substitutes took their places. Steve re-
lieved Sherrard at right end in the second period
and played so poorly that he received more than
one " calling-down ' by " Boots." His temper
seemed to be in a very ragged condition to-day,
and he and Lacey, who played at left tackle on the
first, got into several rumpuses in which hands
were used in a manner not countenanced by the
rules of football. Finally, Steve was sent off to
make way for a second substitute, who played the
position so well during the few minutes that re-
mained that Steve became even more disgruntled.
When practice was over he joined Tom, Eoy and
Harry — the latter pair having watched proceed-
ings from the stand — and made his way to the

196 LEFT END EDWARDS

gymnasium in a very poor state of mind. Roy,
who didn't believe in humouring folks, tried to
twit Steve on his " scrapping ; with Lacey, but
Steve flared up on the instant and Roy was glad to
change the subject. After that, Steve was gloom-
ily silent until the gymnasium was reached.

As chance had it, the first-string fellows had just
completed dressing and begun to leave the build-
ing as the others arrived there, and Steve, leading
the way through the big door, collided with a boy
who was on his way out. There was really plenty
of room for the two to pass each other, but Steve
was not in a frame of mind to give way to anyone
and the result was that the other chap received
the full force of Steve's shoulder.

66 Who are you shoving? " demanded an angry
voice.

Steve turned and confronted Eric Sawyer.
" Don't take all the room if you don't want to be
shoved," answered Steve belligerantly. Eric was
accompanied by a younger fellow, who instantly
withdrew to the safety of the further side of the
hall. " You're too big, anyway," continued
Steve. Tom and the others, at his heels in the
open doorway, gasped and stared at Steve in
amazement. Eric's countenance depicted a simi-
lar emotion for an instant, and I think he, too,

LEFT END EDWARDS 197

gasped. Then he sprang forward and gave Steve
a push that sent him staggering away from the
door.

6 i You fresh kid ! " he growled. * ' You keep
out of my way after this or you'll get hurt.
I've stood about all of your nonsense I mean
to!77

Steve leaped back with clenched hands and flash-
ing eyes, but Harry stepped between, while Tom
and Boy caught hold of Steve.

" That'll be about all, Sawyer," said Harry

•

quietly. " You can't fight a fellow a head smaller
than you, you know."

" Don't you butt in," growled Eric. " I don't
intend to fight him, but I'll give him a mighty good
spanking if he bothers me any more. Come on,
Whipple."

Steve, struggling against the grasps and pleas
of Tom and Roy, strove to get between Eric Saw-
yer and the door. " Spank me, will you? he
said angrily. " You let me be, you fellows!
Take your hands off me! I'll show him he can't
push me around! :

" I won't push you the next time,' laughed
Eric contemptuously. " I'll turn you over my
knee! You, too, you other freshie.' He glared
at Tom, but Tom was too busy with Steve to make

198 LEFT END EDY^AKDS

reply. i ' You want to both of you keep away from
me after this."

And, with a final scowl, Eric went out, followed
by his companion who ventured a weak and ingra-
tiating smile as he passed. By that time the hall
was half-full of curious spectators, and Steve,
finding his enemy gone, allowed himself to be con-
ducted to the stairway.

"I'm not through with him yet,' he de-
clared. " I'll teach him to push me around like
that ! ' '

11 Oh, cut it! " said Eoy disgustedly. " Don't
be a silly ass, Steve. You began it yourself and
you got what was coming to you. A nice fight you
would put up against Sawyer ! :

" It's no affair of yours,' replied Steve hotly.
' ; No one asked you to butt in on it, anyway. You
too, Tom ! The next time you keep out of my af-
fairs. Do you understand!

Tom said nothing, but Eoy shrugged his shoul-
ders as they entered the locker room. " If you
want to make a fool of yourself, all right, Steve.
I won't interfere again. Don't worry.'

"I'm no more of a fool than you are,' re-
sponded Steve. " You fellows make me sick.
Just because Sawyer's a little bigger, you let him
kick you all over the shop."

LEFT END EDWARDS 199

" He's never kicked me," drawled Harry.
" But if tie tried to I'd run. I may not be a hero,
but I know what's what! Put your head under
the cold water tap, Steve.'

Steve replied to that advice with a scowl, and
Harry and Roy turned back to make their way up-
stairs again and across to Torrence.

" He acted like a silly kid," said Roy crossly.

" Yes, he was in a beast of a temper to-day,
anyway. Wonder what's the matter with him.
He's like a bear with a sore head. He had pluck
to stand up to Sawyer, though. I'd have run.'

" So would he, probably, if he hadn't been so
mad, ' ' chuckled Roy. * ' You can be awfully brave
if you get mad enough! ! Then he added more
seriously : ' ' Sawyer will get him some day surely,
after this."

" Oh, Sawyer isn't as bad as he's painted, I
guess," replied Harry. " The trouble with Steve
is that he's pig-headed or something.'

66 He fancies himself a bit," said Roy. " He
will get over it after he's been here longer. You
can't help liking him, though, and I'll be sorry if
he gets out.'

" Why should he get' out! " asked Harry in sur-
prise.

Roy shrugged. " Maybe he won't, but he will

200 LEFT END EDWAEDS

if lie doesn't get a hunch and buckle down to study.
' Uncle Sim : has got it in for him hard. Some
fine day Steve will get an invitation to the Cot-
tage, Josh will tell him a few things, Steve will get
lumpy and — good-night! You see if it doesn't
turn out that way. ' '

" "Why the dickens doesn't he study, then? "
grumbled Harry. " He's got brains enough.'

" Oh, sure, he's got the brains," answered Eoy
as he held open the door at Torrence, " but he
hasn't discovered yet that there's someone else to
think of besides Steve. If he doesn't want to do
a thing he won't — unless he's made to. Look at
the way he played to-day! Just because he felt
lumpy he didn't think it was worth while to do
anything but scrap with that other chap. Folks
won't stand for that very long and some day Steve
will wake up with a bang ! :

" You going over to swim! : ' asked Harry when
they had reached their room.

Eoy shook his head gently. " Not this after-
Inoon, I think, thanking you just the same. I'd be
afraid Steve would pull me under water and drown
me! : Eoy chuckled as he seated himself and,
thrusting his hands in his trousers pockets, sur-
veyed his shoes smilingly. " Poor old Steve!
He's in for a heap of trouble, I guess, before he

LEFT END EDWARDS 201

gets ready to settle down as a useful member of
our charming little community.'

" Seems to me," said Harry, " about the best
thing you do to-day is predict trouble for folks.
You're as bad as What's-his-name's raven; you
croak.'

" The gentleman's name was Poe,' returned
Eoy sweetly. " But perhaps you've never stud-
ied American literature. '

" I thought Poe was a football hero at Prince-
ton or somewhere," laughed Harry. " What did
he ever do for American literature ?

" American history was more in his line,' re-
plied Eoy. " Football history. Find your ball
and let's go down and pass. I won't croak a sin-
gle, solitary croak, old thing,"

CHAPTER XVI

MB. DALEY IS OUT

THE reason for Steve's ill-temper was the receipt
that morning of a letter from his father. Mr.
Edwards wrote that he had just been informed by
the principal that Steve 's work was far from sat-
isfactory. " He tells me," wrote Mr. Edwards,
" that your general attitude toward your studies
is careless and that in Latin especially you are not
keeping up with your class. Now I can't be wor-
ried by this sort of thing. I give you fair warn-
ing that if you don't mend your ways you'll be
taken out of school and put to work here in the
office, and there won't be any more talk about col-
lege. If Mr. Fernald had said you were not able
to do the work, that would be another thing, but
he distinctly accuses you of not trying and not
caring. I suppose the whole amount of the mat-
ter is that you're paying too much attention to
football. If I get another complaint about you
this year I shall write Mr. Fernald to forbid you
to play football or any other game until you show
that you mean business. If that doesn 't bring you

202

LEFT END EDWARDS 203

around I shall take you out of school. Fair warn-
ing, Steve.'7

Steve knew his father well enough to be certain
that he would do just as he threatened, and the
future looked particularly dark to him that day.
Of course, if he had plenty of time he could mas-
ter his Latin — and his Greek, which was troubling
him less but was by no means a favourite course —
as well as any other study, he told himself. But
there was so much to be done! And try as he
might, he could never seem to find time enough
for study. If he gave up football it would, per-
haps, be easy enough, but, he asked himself bit-
terly, what was the good of going to school and
doing nothing but study? What was the good of
knowing how to play football if he wasn't to have
a chance to use his knowledge? It was all the
fault of the faculty. It tried to get too much work
out of the fellows in too short a time. But these
reflections didn't help his case any. It was up to
him to make good with Latin. Otherwise his
father would write to Josh, as he threatened, and
there 'd be no more football. If he could get
through the next month, by which time the football
season would be at an end, it would be all right.
After that he could give more time to lessons. He
might, too, he told himself, give up those swim-

204 LEFT END EDWARDS

ming lessons. But they came at an hour when it
was terribly hard to get a fellow's mind down to
study. And, besides, he enjoyed those lessons.
The only thing to do was to stay at home in the
evenings and keep his nose in his books. Tom
didn't have much trouble, he reflected, and why
should he? Sometimes he got thoroughly angry
with Tom for the ease with which that youth mas-
tered lessons!

To make matters worse, just at that time, there
was due the last of the week an original composi-
tion in French, designed by Mr. Daley as a test for
the class. French did not bother Steve much, al-
though this was partly due to the fact that Mr.
Daley had been very lenient with him, knowing
that he was having trouble in the classical courses.
But writing an original composition in French
was a feat that filled Steve with dismay. What
the dickens was he to write about? Mr. Daley
had announced that the composition must contain
not less than twelve hundred words. That ap-
proximated six pages in a blue-book. Steve

4»

sighed, frowned, shook his head and finally
shrugged his shoulders. After all, there was no
use worrying about that yet. There still re-
mained three days for the composition, and the
most important thing now was to make a showing

LEFT END EDWARDS 205

in Latin. French could wait. If he didn't find
time for the composition — well, Mr. Daley was
easy! He'd get by somehow!

So Steve pegged away hard at his Latin for
several days and made a very good showing, and
Mr. Simkins, who had been contemplating harsh
measures, took heart and hoped that further re-
ports to the principal would be unnecessary. But
what with Latin and Greek and mathematics and
history and English, that French composition was
still unwritten when Thursday evening arrived.
It had been a hard day on the gridiron and Steve
was pretty well fagged out when study hour came.
He had told himself for several days that at the
last moment he would buckle down and do that
composition, but to-night, with a hard lesson in
geometry staring him in the face, the thing looked
impossible. Across the study table, Tom was dili-
gently digging into Greek, his French composition
already finished and ready to be handed in on the
morrow. Steve looked over at him enviously and
sighed. He hadn't an idea in his head for that
composition ! After a while, when he had spoiled
two good sheets of paper with meaningless
scrawls, he pushed back his chair. There w?s just
one course open. He would go down and tell Mr.
Daley that he couldn't do it! After all, " Hor-

206 LEFT END EDWARDS

ace " was a pretty reasonable sort of chap and
would probably give him another day or two. In
any case, it was impossible to do the thing to-
night. He glanced at his watch and found that
the time was ten minutes to eight. Tom looked
up inquiringly as Steve's chair went back.

"I'm going down to see t Horace,' ' said Steve.
" I can't do that French composition, and I'm
going to tell him so. If he doesn't like it, he may
do the other thing.'

Tom made no reply, but he watched his chum
thoughtfully until the door had closed behind him.
Then he dug frowningly for a moment with the
nib of a pen in the blotter and finally shook his
head and went back to his book.

When Steve was half-way between the stair-
well and Mr. Daley's door, the latter opened and
Eric Sawyer came out. Steve was in no mood to-
night to pick a quarrel and he passed the older
fellow with averted eyes, dimly aware of the scowl
that greeted him. When he knocked at the in-
structor's door there was no reply and, after a
moment, Steve turned the knob and entered. At

the outer door Eric had paused and looked
back.

Mr. Daley's study was lighted but empty. Sat-
isfying himself on the latter point, Steve turned

LEFT END EDWAEDS 207

to go out. Then, reflecting that, since the instruc-
tor had left the lights on, he was probably coming
right back, he decided to await him. He seated
himself in a chair near the big green-topped table.
Almost under his hand lay a blue-book, and in idle
curiosity Steve leaned forward and looked at it.
On the white label in the upper left-hand corner
he read: " French IV. Carl W. Upton. Origi-
nal composition.' Steve viewed that blue-book
f rowningly, envying Upton deeply. Upton, whom
he knew by sight, was the sort of fellow who al-
ways had his lessons and who was forever being
held up by the instructor to the rest of the course
as a shining example of diligence. He roomed on
the floor above Steve. It was, Steve reflected, just
like Upton to get his composition done and hand
it in in advance of the others. He wondered what
sort of stuff Upton had written, and lifted the
blue-book from the table.

" En Eevanche! : he read as he turned to the
first page. His lip curled. That was a silly title.
He dipped into the story. It was something about
a French soldier accused of cowardice by an offi-

cer. Steve, puzzling through the first page,
grudgingly acknowledged that Upton had written
pretty good stuff. But his interest soon waned,
for some of the words were beyond him, and he

208 LEFT END EDWAKDS

idly tossed the book back on the table. He wished,
though, that that was his composition and not
Upton's. He wondered if Mr. Daley had seen it.
Somehow the position of the book, in the geometri-
cal centre of the big writing-pad, suggested that
Upton had found the instructor out and had left
the book. If he had that book upstairs it wouldn't
be hard to copy the composition out in his own
hand-writing. It would be a whole lot like steal-
ing, but-

Steve looked fascinatedly at the book for a min-
ute. Then his hand went out and he was once
more turning the pages of neat, close writing. Of
course, he wouldn't really do a thing like that,
but — well, it would solve a mighty big problem!
And what a hole that self-sufficient Upton would
be in! He couldn't prove that he had left the
book in Mr. Daley's study, at least not unless the
instructor had seen it there; and somehow Steve
was pretty sure he hadn't. Of course a decent
chap wouldn't do a trick like that, only — well, it
would certainly be easy enough!

Upstairs, Tom was still deep in his Greek, but
he looked up as Steve came in. " Find him? ' he
asked.

Steve shook his head. " No, he was out. I —
I'll go down again." Instead of reseating him-

LEFT END EDWARDS 209

self at the table, he fidgetted aimlessly about the
room, looked out the window, sat down on the seat,
got up again, went to the closet, returned to the
table and stood looking down on Tom with a frown.
Tom closed his book with a sigh of relief and met
his chum's gaze.

" Going to tackle that composition now? he
asked encouragingly.

" I guess so," answered Steve carelessly.
" Are you through?

" Yes. I think I'll run over to Harry's a min-
ute. I suppose you won't come.'

" Not likely, with this pesky thing to do.'
Steve sank into his chair, picked up a pencil and
drummed irritably on the table. " Maybe,
though,'7 he went on after a moment, " I'll get up
early and do it. I don't feel much like it to-
night. ' 7

" Just the same," returned Tom as he picked
up his cap, " I'd do it to-night if I were you and
get it over with.'

" Oh, if you were me you'd had it done a week
ago Tuesday,' replied Steve with vast sarcasm.
11 I guess I'll go along."

" How about your math? " asked Tom doubt-
fully.

Steve shrugged. " I'll get by," he answered.

210 LEFT END EDWARDS

" Anyway, I don't intend to stay cooped up here
all the evening. I'll have a go at it when I get
back, maybe.'

11 We-ell.' Tom looked as though he wanted
to advise against that course, but he didn't. In-
stead, " Do you mind waiting for me a minute? !
he asked. " I want to run down and ask Mr.
Daley about something, if he's back. Do you
want to see him if he's there? I'll whistle up to
you if you like."

Steve shook his head indifferently. " I'll see
him when we come back," he answered. " Hurry
up. ' 7

Tom was back in two or three minutes. i ' Still
out," he announced as he put back on the table the
French book he had taken with him. ' ' He 's get-
ting a bit dissipated, I'm afraid, staying out after
eight ! ' ?

" There's a faculty meeting to-night, I think,'
responded Steve. " Are you ready?

He found his cap and followed Tom. In the
corridor the latter glanced back. " Better turn
out the light," he said. " They've been after the
fellows lately about leaving it burning.'

Grumblingly Steve stepped back and snapped
the switch. " Who's monitor here, anyhow? ' he
asked.

LEFT END EDWARDS 211

' ' Upton, ' ' answered Tom. ' l And they say he 's
right on his job, too.'

" He would be,' growled the other. " He's a
regular teacher's pet.' As they went down the
stairs Steve said: " I came across Eric Sawyer in
the hall when I went down to find ' Horace '.'

" Eeallyf " asked Tom. " Did he — say any-
thing? "

" No. I didn't want any trouble with him to-
night and so I made believe I didn't see him.'

" That's the stuff," Tom approved. " I guess
if we leave him alone he won't bother us.'

" I'm likely to bother him before I get through
with him," replied Steve darkly as they left the
building. " He can't shove me around as he did
and get away with it ! :

" Oh, come, Steve! : expostulated Tom pa-
tiently. " You know very well you shoved
him first. What's the use of being sore about
that ? ' '

61 He bumped into me," denied Steve. " I
didn't shove.'

" Well, you gave a mighty good imitation of it,'
replied Tom drily. " Seems to me it was about
an even thing, and I'd forget it, Steve.'

11 Mavbe vou would," muttered Steve, " but I

* «/ / /

don't intend to."

CHAPTER XVII

THE BLUE-BOOK

IT was almost half -past nine when they got back
to the room. An hour in the society of Roy and
Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and
on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that
he intended to tackle that geometry before he went
to bed. As Tom switched the light on, Steve's
glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
It had evidently been slipped in under the door.

" Who's this from! he muttered as he bore
it to the table. " Someone was too lazy to open
the door and come in.'

11 What is it? : asked Tom, bending over
Steve's shoulder.

" It's from that idiot Durkin," chuckled the lat-
ter. " ' Got just what you fellows need. Shoe-
blacking stand, two brushes, all complete. Cheap.
Come and see it. P. Durkin.' "

; l A shoe-blacking stand ! ' ' laughed Tom.
" Say, he must have seen your shoes, Steve.'

" Must have seen yours, you mean! : Steve
crumpled the note up and dropped it in the basket

LEFT END EDWABDS 213

under the table. " I guess we don't want any
more of Mr. Durkin's bargains.'

" Still, tliis ' Morris : chair turned out pretty
well/ said Tom, settling himself in it with a
book. " And perhaps if we had that thing you'd
keep your shoes looking better.'

" Well, there's one thing about my shoes," re-
turned Steve good-naturedly, " and that is the
heels are blacked. Which is more than you can
say of yours, my smart young friend.'

Tom was about to deny the imputation when
footsteps sounded in the corridor and there came
a knock on the door.

i i Come in, ' ' said Tom very politely. That step
could only be Mr. Daley's, he thought. And when
the door opened he found his surmise correct.
Mr. Daley looked more nervous and embarrassed
than usual as he entered.

" Good-evening, boys," he said. " I--er--I
wonder if I might speak to you just a moment,
Edwards."

" Certainly, sir."

" I'll get out, Mr. Daley," said Tom, rising.

" Er — well, if you don't mind, Hall; just for a
minute. Thank you so much."

Tom went out, closing the door behind him, and
Mr. Daley cleared his throat.

214 LEFT END EDWARDS

' ' Will you sit down, sir ? ' asked Steve.

66 Er — thanks, yes, just for a minute. I — er — I
believe you called this evening when I was out,
Edwards."

" Yes, sir, about eight." >

" Yes, yes. Sorry I was not in. I wonder if-
if you happened to see a blue-book on my table
when you were there, Edwards."

" Yes, sir, there was one there," replied Steve
after an instant's hesitation.

" Ah, then Upton was not mistaken. He says
he left one. Unfortunately, I am not able to find
it, Edwards. You — er — you don't happen to
know where it is, Edwards? "

" I, sir! : Steve's tone was incredulous.
" Why, no, Mr. Daley. It was on the table when
I left, and "

" Er — just a moment! " Mr. Daley held up a
hand, smiling nervously. " I don't mean to sug-
gest that you carried the book off intentionally,
Edwards, but it occurred to me that possibly you
might have — er — taken it up by mistake, absent-
mindedly, so to say, and — er — brought it up here
with vou."

" No, sir, I didn't." Steve looked at the in-
structor questioningly. " I don't see why you'd
imagine that, sir, either."

LEFT END EDWARDS 215

" Er — well, I knew — that is, someone told me
that you were in my room, Edwards, and I thought
— that possibly — quite by accident — you had —
er '

" I was in your room, Mr. Daley, and I waited
two or three minutes for you; maybe longer; and
the blue-book was on the table when I went in and
it was there when I came out.'

" You — you had a blue-book in your hand, how-
ever, did you not, when you — er — left? "

" A blue-book? No, sir."

" Oh! That is strange, Edwards. You are
certain you didn't take down a blue-book of your
own and bring it back again?

i6 Absolutely sure, sir."

66 But — er — someone saw you leave my room,
Edwards, with a blue-book in your hand.'

Steve flushed and his voice held an angry tremor
as he answered: " Someone was mistaken, Mr.
Daley, whoever he was. Seems to me, sir, if the
book is missing, you'd better ask that l someone :
about it.'

" Um; yes; maybe.' Mr. Daley blinked em-
barrassedly. " I — er — I thought that perhaps
you had brought down your French compo-
sition and had possibly, in leaving, taken up
Upton's book with your own by mistake. You —

216 LEFT END EDWARDS

er — you're quite sure that didn't happen, Ed-
wards?

"I'm positive, because I haven't done my com-
position, sir. :

" Haven't done it? "

" No, sir," replied Steve a trifle defiantly.

" But — er — it's pretty late, and you know they
are to be handed in to-morrow, Edwards. You
are having trouble with it? "

" I — I haven't started it yet. I- -I just can't
do it, Mr. Daley. I never could do original things
like that. That's why I went down to see you. I
wanted to ask if you'd let me have a couple more
days for it. You see, sir, I've been having a
pretty hard time with Latin, and — and there
hasn't been any time for the composition, sir.'

" I see.' Mr. Daley viewed Steve dubiously.
"I'm sorry, Edwards. I'm afraid you are not —
er — trying very hard to accomplish your work
these days.'

" I am trying, sir, but — but the Latin — '
Steve hesitated. " Mr. Simkins is awfully hard
on me, Mr. Daley, and "

" And I am not? " Mr. Daley smiled sadly.
" And so you thought you'd trust to my — er —
good-nature, eh? Really, Edwards, you are ask-
ing a good deal, you know. You've had nearly

LEFT END EDWARDS 217

ten days for that composition; a scant twelve
hundred words on any subject you liked; and it
seems to me that if you had really wanted to do
it you could have found the time, I don't want^o
be hard on you. but — er — I'm afraid I shall have
to insist on your handing in that composition not
later than to-morrow noon. I have been very
lenient with you, Edwards, very. You — er — you
must see that yourself. But — er — this sort of
thing can't go on all the term. You really must
get down to work.'

" If I could have another day for it," begged
Steve, " I could get it done, sir."

" You have had ten days already; to be ex-
act, nine and a half, Edwards. I don't think I
should make any exception in your case. I'm
sorry."

Steve stared at his shoes, a somewhat mutinous
expression on his face. After a moment, " It
isn't fair to say I'm not trying," he broke out.
1 i I am trying, but things are too hard here. They
ask too much work of a fellow. Why, if I was to
get B's in all my courses I'd have to study eight
hours a day ! A fellow wants to do something be-
side stick in his room and grind, Mr. Daley. He
wants to get out and — and play sometimes. If
you're on the football team you don't have any

218 LEFT END EDWAEDS

time in the afternoons and then, when evening
comes, you're tired and sleepy.'

" But you have time between recitations in the
morning, Edwards, to do some studying, do you
not? Other boys manage to both work and play.
Why can't you? Look at your room-mate. I be-
'lieve that he is — er — on one of the football teams.
He seems to get his lessons fairly well. I pre-
sume that he has written his composition?

" Yes, sir."

" Of course. It is probably here somewhere."
Mr. Daley's eyes inspected the pile of books at his
elbow, and the corner of a blue-book met his gaze.
" This is doubtless it," He drew it forth. " It
doesn't look such a herculean task, Edwards.
Here are seven pages, rather more than required,
I'd say, and-

Mr. Daley ceased abruptly, and, after a moment,
Steve, who had been gloomily regarding the floor,
looked across. The instructor was observing him
strangely.

" Do you know whose book this is, Edwards?
he asked.

" I suppose it's Tom's. It isn't mine,' he
added moodily.

" It is Carl Upton's."

" Carl- Steve stared bewilderedly.

LEFT END EDWARDS 219

" It seems that you must have — er — taken it
after all, Edwards. "

" But I didn 't, sir ! Tom will tell you that "

He faltered, and a puzzled look came into his
eyes as he regarded the book in the instructor's
hand.

" Well, really, Edwards," — Mr. Daley spoke
lightly, but his countenance was grave — " you
mustn't expect me to put it down to a miracle. If
you didn't put the book here on your table, who
did? Unless Hall knows something about it!
Was he in my study this evening?

There was a bare instant of hesitation. Then,
" No, sir," replied Steve steadily.

" Er — you are sure! He might have called on
me when you were out.'

" We were together all the evening, Mr. Daley.'

" Then " The instructor cleared his throat

nervously.

" I guess — I guess it's up to me, sir," said
Steve.

Mr. Daley sighed. " I think it must be.'
There was silence for a moment. Then, " Why! "
asked Mr. Daley gently.

" I don't know, sir."

" You couldn't have thought of — er — making
unfair use of it! "

220 LEFT END EDWARDS

" I " Steve hesitated again. Finally,

" Perhaps I did for a moment. But — I shouldn't
have, sir, ' ' he added earnestly.

" I hope not, Edwards. But — why did you take
it? You — er — must have known that it would — er
— be missed."

" I ! -Steve seemed to be searching for an
answer — * l I just took it to — to get even with Up-
ton."

" To get even with him? He has — er — done
something, then, to — er — annoy you?

11 Yes, sir. That is, well- -I don't like him.'

Mr. Daley observed Steve dubiously. At last,
" I wish I could believe that explanation, Ed-
wards,' he said. " As inexcusable as such — er —
such an action would be, it would still be pref-
erable to — to what I am forced to suspect. But
the whole thing is beyond me.' The instructor
spread his hands in a gesture of despair. " I
can't understand it. Edwards." After a minute,
* * It must have been an accident, ' continued Mr.
Daley almost pleadingly. " You — er — you per-
haps mistook the book for your own-

11 I didn't have anv " muttered Steve.

*> /

' ' Well. ' ' Mr. Daley cleared his throat. ' ' I—

I must think it over. I — I scarcely know what to
say, Edwards. I'm sorry, very sorry.' He

LEFT END EDWARDS 221

arose and moved to the door. " Come and see me
to-morrow noon, please. We — er — must talk this
over again. Good-night, Edwards. '

" Good-night, sir.' Steve stood up until the
door had closed and then sank back into his chair
again, a very miserable look on his face.

' l What a crazy place to hide it ! "he murmured.

The door opened and Tom came in, Tom with an
expression half troubled and half humorous.
" What's up? ' he asked in a low voice.

11 Oh, nothing," replied Steve carelessly, avoid-
ing Tom's eyes. ." He jumped me because I
hadn't done my comp. Says I must turn it in by
noon to-morrow.'

" Is that all? " Tom heaved a sigh of relief.
66 When he asked me to get out I thought it was
something pretty serious.'

" Isn't that old composition serious enough? ;
asked Steve with a laugh that didn't sound quite
true.

" Yes, I suppose so. Look here, Steve, if you'll
tackle it now, I'll help you all I can with it. It
won't take long. What time is it?

" Have you done yours? ' asked Steve.

" Yes,' replied the other unenthusiastically.
" It's done, but — but I guess it's pretty rotten.
If I get a C on it I'll be doing well. I thought

222 LEFT END EDWAKDS

maybe I'd go over it again, but- -I guess it'll have
to do."

' ' Where is it I "

66 Here somewhere.' Tom searched at the far
end of the table and drew a blue-book to light.
" Want to see it? "

Steve took it and glanced over it, a puzzled
frown on his forehead.

" What's the matter? " asked Tom. " Don't
you like it? I guess it is pretty punk, though.'

" It's all right, as far as I know," answered
Steve, returning the book. " Only- -I don't un-
derstand "

11 Don't understand what? Say, you're as mys-
terious as — as — Sherlock Holmes! "

" Nothing. By the way, a funny thing hap-
pened." Steve wandered toward the window, his
back to Tom. " When I went down to find ' Hor-
ace ' I picked up a blue-book that was on his table
and brought it up here. It was Upton's. I- -I
hadn't any recollection of doing it, but he found
it lying on the table. Of course I felt like a fool. '

" Oh," said Tom after a moment. " That—
that was funny. I didn't see you bring it in with
you." There was a note of constraint in his voice
that did not escape Steve.

11 I don't remember bringing it in,' ' he replied.

LEFT END EDWAEDS 223

1 i I saw it on the table down there and — and looked
at it, had it in my hand, but I don't remember
bringing it up. "

" Funny," said Tom lightly. " Did — did he1
say anything? "

" Oh, no. Of course I denied it at first, said I
couldn't have taken it, but he said I must have,
unless — unless you had. He asked if you were in
his room and I said no.'

" But I was! : exclaimed Tom. " Don't you
remember ? I went down just before we went out.
But there wasn't any blue-book on his table then.
At least, I didn't see any."

" Well, it doesn't matter. I told him you
hadn't been there. I — I'd let him think so, any-
way. There's no use having any more bother
about the old thing."

" Well, but — you're sure he wasn't waxy? Of
course I didn't take the book; you can prove that
I didn't have it when I came back; but if he's act-
ing ugly about it, why — I'll tell him I was in there
too. He can lay it on me if he wants to. I — I
think I '11 tell him, Steve."

' ' You keep out of it, ' ' answered Steve roughly.
"What's the use of having any more talk

o »/

about it? He's got the book and there's no harm

done."

221 LEFT END EDWARDS

Toin considered a moment. Then, " You're
certain? ' he asked.

" Certain of what? "

" That— that it's all right, that he doesn't
blame you for it.'

" Oh, he knows I did it, but he doesn't mind.
What time is it? "

61 A quarter past ten. What are you doing?

Steve was ripping his bed to pieces. " I want
a couple of blankets,' he said. " Haven't we
some thumb-tacks somewhere?

" Table drawer," replied Tom. " What's the
game? "

"I'm going to do that rotten composition.'
Steve climbed to a chair, and with the aid of push-
pins draped one of the blankets over the door and
transom. Then he pulled the window-shade close
and hung the second blanket inside the casement.
i i There ! Now if anyone sees a light in this room
they'll have to have mighty good eyes. You tum-
ble into bed, Tom, and try to imagine it's dark.'

" Bed? Who wants to go to bed? " asked Tom,
smothering a yawn. "I'm going to help you with
it."

" No, you're not," replied Steve doggedly.
" I'm going to do it and I'm going to do it all my-
self if it takes me until daylight. Now shut up.'

CHAPTER XVIII

B PLUS AND D MINUS

AT half -past ten the next morning Mr. Daley hur-
ried into the class-room where French IV was al-
ready assembled, stumbled over the edge of the
platform — the boys would have gasped with
amazement had he neglected to do that — and
took his seat. On one corner of the table in front
of him was a pile of blue-books. He drew it
toward him and ran a hand along the edges of the
books.

11 Has everyone handed in his composition?
he asked.

There was no reply and he seemed surprised.
" I — er — I am to understand, then, that you have
all turned your books in!

Still no dissenting voice. Mr. Daley's gaze
travelled over the class until it encountered Steve
at the rear of the room. He opened his mouth,
hesitated, closed it again, cleared his throat and
finally pushed the pile of books aside.

" Very well," he said. " I shall mark these

225

226 LEFT END EDWARDS

this evening. You will — er — kindly get them to-
morrow. Now then, ' Le Siege de Paris ' ; we left
off where, Upton ! ' '

At a few minutes past twelve Steve knocked at
Mr. Daley's door, and, obeying the invitation, en-
tere L The instructor was seated at his desk, a
litter of blue-books in front of him and a pipe in
his mouth. The latter he laid aside as the boy
appeared.

" You said you wanted to see me, sir/ said
Steve.

" Er — yes, Edwards. Sit down, please. " The
instructor took up his pipe again, hurriedly put
it aside, seized a pencil and jotted nervously on
the back of a book. Finally,

" I--er — find your composition here,' he said.
" When did you write it? "

" Between half-past ten last night and two
o'clock this morning."

6 i Hm ! : Mr. Daley swung around in his chair,
viewed the oblong of landscape framed by the
window for a moment and swung back again.
There was a faint smile about his eyes. " Ed-
wards, you — er — are a bit disconcerting. I pre-
sume you know that the rules require you to be in
bed with lights out at ten-thirty? "

" Yes, sir."

LEFT END EDWARDS 227

" Hm! And you — er — deliberately transgressed
that rule ? ' '

" I didn't see anything else to do, Mr. Daley.
You* said I must turn that in by noon and
there wouldn't have been time this morning to do
it."

" Logically reasoned, my boy, but- The

instructor shook his head. " You mustn't expect
me to compliment you on your performance, Ed-
wards. To perform one duty by neglecting an-
other is hardly — er — commendable. If it were not
that you had transgressed a rule of the school,
Edwards, I might compliment you quite highly.
Your composition--! — er--IVe been glancing
through it — is really very good. I don't mean
that you have not made mistakes of grammar, for
you have, lots of them, but — er — you have written
a well-constructed and — er — well-expressed nar-
rative. What I — er — especially like about it is
the subject. You have written of something you
know about, something close at home, so to say. I
— er — I am not much of a swimmer myself, but I
presume that the instructions you have laid down
here are — er — quite correct. In fact, Edwards,
I'll even go so far as to say that I fancy one might
take this composition of yours and — er — really
learn something about swimming. And — er — if

228 LEFT END EDWARDS

you have ever tried to learn anything of the sort
— golf, rowing, tennis — from a hand-book you will
realise that that is high praise."

" Yes, sir. Thank you.'

" I had decided to mark your composition with
a B, Edwards. Perhaps the many mistakes in
grammar would ordinarily indicate a C, perhaps
even a C minus, but the — er — other merits of the
exercise are so pronounced that, on the whole, I
think it deserves a B."

11 Thank you, sir.'

i i Er — just a moment. ' The instructor held up
a hand. ' l I said that I had decided to give you a
B, Edwards. That, however, was before I had
learned when this was written. I shall now give
it a D minus. You — er — you understand why, Ed-
wards? "

61 Yes, sir."

"I'm sorry, but I — er — must take into consid-
eration the facts in the case. And those facts are
that you neglected your work until the last mo-
ment and then disobeyed one of the well-known
rules of the school in order to perform it. There
is one other thing I might do. I might credit
you with a B on your exercise and report you to
the Office for disobeying the rules. But — er — I
think, on the whole, that the first method is the

LEFT END EDWAKDS 229

more satisfactory. You understand, of course,
that anything under a C in this test is equivalent
to failure? "

11 Yes, sir."

" Hm; exactly. Therefore, Edwards, you will
be required to make up nearly a month's work in
French. I shall have to ask you to prove to me
that you are in line with the rest of the class.
But you will have a full week to do this and I — er
— I suspect that you will not find it very difficult. ' '
Mr. Daley took up a blue pencil and marked a
large " D — " on the corner of the blue-book.
" You might as well take this now, Edwards.
Bring me another composition not later than a
week from to-day, please.' The instructor flut-
tered the leaves of a memorandum-pad and made
a note opposite a future date. " I have not cor-
rected it, but, as you have it to do over, that is not
necessary."

Mr. Daley leaned back in his chair and gazed
for a minute at the table. Then,

" There is one other thing, Edwards,' he said
hesitantly. " About last night, you know; the-
er — the misappropriation of Upton's blue-book.
Have you — er — thought that over! "

" I suppose so, sir.'

" Hm! I should like to ask you one question

230 LEFT END EDWAEDS

and receive an absolutely truthful reply, Ed-
wards.'

" Yes, sir."

" Vv7hen you took that book to your room did
you intend to — er — make a wrong use of it?

" No, sir. I saw the book on your table, Mr.
Daley, and — and it did occur to me that it would
be easy to copy it out in my own writing and — and
turn it in as my work, sir. I read a little of it and
put it back on the table. But I don't at all re-
member seeing it again after that, sir, and that's
the truth. I haven't the slightest recollection of
having it in my hand when I left this room or of
putting it on the table upstairs. And — and I'd
like you to believe me, sir.'

" I want to, Edwards, I want to,' replied Mr.
Daley eagerly. " And — er — to-day your story
sounds much more plausible. I can imagine that,
with the thought of your own composition in mind
and doubtless worrying you, you might easily
have — er — absentmindedly picked that book from
the table here when you went out and taken it to

your room without being conscious of the act. I
believe that to be quite possible, Edwards, and I
am going to think it happened just that way. I
have never observed any signs of--er — dishonesty
in you, my boy, and I don't think you are a liar.

LEFT END EDWARDS 231

We will consider that matter closed and we will
both, forget all about it.'

' * Thank you, sir, ' ' replied Steve gratefully.

" But, Edwards, this seems to me a good time
to tell you that — er — that your attitude toward —
er — your work and toward those in authority has
not been satisfactory. You have — er — impressed
me as a boy with, to use a vulgar expression, a
grouch. Xow, get that out of your system, Ed-
wards. No one is trying to impose on you. Your
work is no harder than the next fellow's. What
you lack is, I presume, application. I — er--I
don't deny that possibly you are pressed for time
when it comes to studying, but that is your fault.
Your football work is exacting, for one thing, al-
though there are plenty of fellows — I could name
twenty or thirty with whom I come in contact —
who manage to play football and maintain an ex-
cellent class standing at the same time. So, Ed-
wards, the fault lies somewhere with you, in you,
doubtless. Now, what do you think it is? "

" I don't know, Mr. Daley." Steve shook his
head hopelessly. " I want to do what 'slight, sir,
but- -but somehow I can't seem to."

" When you study do you put your mind on it,
or do you find yourself thinking of other things,
football, for instance? "

232 LEFT END EDWAEDS

11 I guess I think of other things a good deal,"
replied Steve.

" Football? "

i i I guess so ; football and — and swimming and
-lots of things, sir.'

" There's a time for football and a time for
study, Edwards. You will have to first of all —
er — leave football behind you when you come off
the field. Swimming, the same way. It won't
work. I've seen it tried too often, Edwards.
You — er — you wouldn't want to have to give up
football, I suppose!

" No, sir! ' Steve looked up in alarm.

11 But it might come to that, my boy. You're
here to learn, you know, and we would not be treat-
ing your parents fairly — or you either — if we al-
lowed you to waste your time. Football is an ex-
cellent sport; one of the best, I think; but it's only
a sport, not a — er — profession, you know. All the
knowledge of football in the world isn't going to
help you when you leave here and try to enter
college. By the way, I presume you intend to go
to college, Edwards! "

" Yes, sir."

" Then keep that in mind. Eemember that
you're getting yourself ready for it. Perhaps
that will make your work seem better worth

LEFT END EDWARDS 233

doing. How are you getting on with your
Latin f ' '

" Very well, sir, just now.'

" Better see that i just now ' becomes ' all the
time,' Edwards. Why, look here! You can do
the work set you and play football or baseball or
anything else if you'll make up your mind to it.
You're a bright, normal fellow, with the average
amount of brains. Systematise, Edwards! Ar-
range your day right. Mark down so many hours
for recitations, so many hours for study, so many
hours for play, and stick to your schedule. You'll
find after awhile that it comes easy. You'll find
that you — er — you'll miss studying when anything
keeps you from it. When you go out of here
I want you to do that very thing, my boy. I
want you to go right up to your room, take a
sheet of paper and make out a daily schedule.
And when you've got it done put it somewhere
where you'll see it. And stick to it! Will
you? "

" Yes, sir; that is, I — I'll do my best."
' i Good ! ' ' Mr. Daley held out a hand, smiling.
" Shake hands on it, Edwards. You may not be-
lieve it, but half of — er — doing a thing consists of
making up your mind to it! Well, that's all, I
think. Er — you'd better look me up this evening

234 LEFT END EDWARDS

and we'll settle about that French. Good-bye.
Hope I haven't made you late for dinner.'

Steve drew a deep breath outside the door,
puckered his lips and whistled softly, but it was a
thoughtful whistle; as thoughtful as it was tune-
less, and it lasted him all the way upstairs and in-
to his room. Tom had gone, evidently having
wearied of waiting for his friend to accompany
him to dinner. Steve's own appetite was calling
pretty loudly, but, having slipped the blue-book
out of sight under a pile on the table, he dropped
into his chair, drew a sheet of paper to him and
began on the schedule. It took him almost a half-
hour to complete it, and he spoiled several sheets
in the process, but it was finally done, and, heading
it " Daley Schedule," with a brief smile at the
pun, he placed it on his chiffonier and hurried
across to Wendell.

CHAPTER XIX

THE SECOND PUTS IT OVER

" WHAT do you know about that? : demanded
Tom the next day. " ' Horace ' gave me a B on
my comp! Of course, I'm not kicking, but I'll
bet he made a mistake. Maybe he got nervous and
his pencil slipped! :

" Seems to me," returned Steve coldly, " he
knows better than you do what the thing is worth.
He's not exactly an idiot, you know.'

Tom stared in some surprise. " I didn't say he
was an idiot, did I? Considering the things
you've said about * Horace : I don't think you
need take that high-and-mighty tone ! :

" Well, don't be a chump, then," replied Steve.
" If Mr. Daley gave you a B you deserved a B.'

16 Thanking you kindly,' ' murmured Tom as he
disappeared behind the pages of the blue-book to
digest the corrections and criticisms on the mar-
gins. Steve's manner since the night he had re-
mained up until morning to write that composi-
tion had been puzzling. He had very little to say
to Tom, and when he did speak, spoke in a con-

235

236 LEFT END EDWARDS

strained manner quite unlike him. And more
than once Tom had caught Steve observing him
with an expression that he couldn't fathom.
There was something up, that was certain, but
what it was Tom couldn 't imagine. It wasn 't that
Steve was cross or disagreeable. For that mat-
ter, his disposition seemed a good deal improved.
But he was decidedly stand-offish and extraordi-
narily quiet. Tom wanted to ask outright what
the trouble was, but, for some reason, he held back.
As the days passed, Steve's manner became more
natural and he ceased looking at Tom as though,
to quote the latter 's unspoken simile, he was a
new sort of an animal in a zoo! But some
constraint still remained, and, after awhile,
Tom accepted the situation and grew accustomed
to it. By that time he had grown too proud to
ask for an explanation. The two chums spent less
time together as a result, Steve becoming more de-
pendent on Eoy for companionship and Tom on
Harry. When they were all four together, which
was very frequently, it was not so bad, but when
Steve and Tom were alone conversation was apt to
languish.

Tom at first was inclined to blame Steve's
" Daley Schedule " for the change, for that
schedule had quite altered Steve's existence. He

LEFT END EDWAEDS 237

lived by a strict routine which he followed with a
dogged determination quite foreign to his ways as
Tom knew them. He got up on time in the morn-
ing, reached the dining-hall almost as soon as the
doors were opened, spent a scant twenty minutes
there and then went directly back to his room to
browse over his recitations for the day. Once
Tom found him there hunched up in a corner of
the window-seat while the chambermaid, viewing
his presence distastefully, draped the furniture
with bedding and did her best with broom and
duster to discourage him from a repetition of the
outrage. Between ten and eleven on three days a
week Steve put in an hour of study in the room.
On other days he managed to snatch two half-
hour periods in the library between recitations.
At six he was almost invariably awaiting the open-
ing of the doors for dinner, and well before seven
he was at his table again. Usually he studied un-
til nine, although now and then he closed his books
at half-past eight and followed Tom to Number
17 Torrence. Eoy called him the Prize Grind and
interestedly inquired what scholarship he was try-
ing for. Steve accepted the joking with a grim
smile.

It wasn't easy. For the first few days he had
to drive himself to his work with bit and spur.

238 LEFT END EDWAEDS

His feet lagged and he groaned in spirit — perhaps
audibly, too — as he approached his books. But
he did it, and little by little it became easier, until,
as Mr. Daley had predicted, it had become a habit
with him to do certain things at certain hours
and he was uncomfortable if his routine was dis-
arranged. I don't think Steve ever got where he
loved to study, but he did eventually reach a pride
of attainment that answered quite as well. He
found as time went on that it was becoming easier
to learn his lessons and easier to remember them
when learned, and by that time he had taught him-
self to command over his thoughts, and when he
was struggling through a proposition in geometry
he wasn't wondering whether he would beat out
Sherrard for the position of regular right end on
the second before the season was over. In other
words, he had learned concentration.

But all this was not yet. That first week, in
especial, was hard sledding, and that French com-
position almost drove him to distraction and gave
him brain fever before it was done. But done it
was and on time, and, while the best that Mr. Daley
would allow it was a C plus, Steve was distinctly
proud of it. And in that week he demonstrated
to the instructor's satisfaction that he was up with
the class in French. I think Mr. Daley was very

LEFT END EDWARDS 239

willing to be convinced and that he met Steve quite
half-way. Latin was still a bugaboo to Steve,
but it, too, was getting easier. On the whole, that
schedule, backed by a grim determination, was
making good.

Meanwhile football pursued its relentless
course. Every day the first and second fought
it out for gradually increasing periods and every
day the season grew nearer its close and the Claf-
lin game, the final goal, loomed more distinct.
Phillips School came and went and Brimfield
marked up her fifth victory. Phillips gave the
Maroon-and-Grey a hard tussle, and the score, 12
to 0, didn't indicate the closeness of the playing.
For Brimfield made her first touchdown by the
veriest fluke and only gained her second in the last
few minutes of play, when Phillips, outlasted,
weakened on her six-yard line and let Norton
through. On the other hand, Phillips had the ball
thrice inside Brimfield 's twenty yards, missed a
field-goal by the narrowest of margins and, with
the slightest twist of the luck, might have proved
-the victor.

" Boots : had hammered the second into what
Mr. Robey unhesitatingly declared to be one of the
best scrub teams he had ever seen, and there was
more than one contest between it and the Varsity

240 LEFT END EDWARDS

that yielded nothing to an outside game for hard
fighting and excitement. Steve and his rival,
Sherrard, were running about even for the right
end position. Steve's tackling had improved
vastly under Marvin's tutoring, and it was his
ability in that department that possibly gave him
a shade the better of the argument with Sherrard.
So far there had been no decided slump in the
playing of either team, and, since a slump is al-
ways looked for at some time during the season,
both Mr. Eobey and Danny Moore were getting
anxious. Danny almost begged the fellows to go
stale a little. " It ain't natural," he declared.
" It's got to come, so let it and have it over with.'
Neither had there been any injuries of moment.
On this score Danny had no regrets, however. He
was a good trainer and prided himself on his abil-
ity to condition his charges so that they would
escape injuries.

Of course there had been plenty of bruises — one
mild case of charley-horse, several dislocated or
sprained fingers, a wrenched ankle or two and any
number of cuts and scrapes, but none of the in-
juries had interfered with work for more than
three or four days and not once had any first-
string member of the 'varsity missed an outside
game by reason of them. Steve's share of the in-

LEFT END EDWAEDS 241

juries was a bruised shoulder sustained in a flying
tackle that was more enthusiastic than scientific,
and the thing bothered him for several days but
did not keep him off the field. Tom, who played
opposite Jay Fowler in scrimmage, was forever
getting his countenance disfigured. Not that
Fowler meant to leave his mark, but he was a big,
powerful, hard-fighting chap and there were
plenty of times when both parties to the practice
games quite forgot that they were friends. Tom
was seldom seen without a strip of court-plaster
pasted to some portion of his face.

It was four days after the Phillips game, to be
exact, on the following Wednesday, that the first
and second got together for what turned out to
be the warmest struggle of the season in civil
combat. It was a cold, leaden day, with a stinging
breeze out of the northeast, and everv fellow who

•/

wore a head-guard felt as full of ginger as a young
colt. The second trotted over from their gridiron
at four and found the first on its toes to get at
them. Things started off with a whoop. The
second received the kick-off and Marvin ran the
ball back forty yards through a broken field before
he was nailed. Encouraged by that excellent be-
ginning, the scrub team went at it hammer and
tongs. There was a fine old hole that day be-

242 LEFT END EDWARDS

tween Sawyer and Williams, and the second's
backs ploughed through for gain after gain before
the opposing line was cemented together again
there. By that time the ball was down near the
Varsity's ten yards and Captain Miller was froth-
ing at the mouth, while the opposing coaches were
hurling encouragement at their charges and the
pandemonium even extended to the side-lines,
where the school at large, in a frenzy of excite-
ment, shouted and goaded on the teams.

Twice the first held, once forcing Harris back
for a loss, and then Marvin called for kick forma-
tion and himself held the ball for Brownell. What
happened then was one of those unforeseen inci-
dents that make football the hair-raising game it
is. There was a weak spot in the second's line
and, with the passing of the ball to Marvin, the
Varsity forwards came rampaging through.
Brownell swung his leg desperately, trusting to
fortune to get the pigskin over the up stretched
hands of the charging enemy, but it swung against
empty air. Marvin, seeing what was bound to
happen, fearing the result of a blocked kick,
snatched the ball aside just as Captain Brownell
swung at it, rolled over a couple of times out of
the path of the oncoming opponents, scrambled to
his feet and, somehow, scuttled past a half-dozen

LEFT END EDWARDS 243

defenders of the goal and fell over the line for a
touchdown.

The Varsity afterwards called it " bull-luck '
and " fluke : and several other belittling names,
but " Boots " said it was " quick thinking and
football, by jiminy! " At all events the second
scored and then leaped and shouted like a band of
Comanche Indians — or any other kind of Indian
if there 's a noisier sort ! — and generally ' ' rubbed
it in.'

After that you may believe that the Varsity
played football! But nevertheless the first ten-
minute period ended with the second still six
points to the good and her goal-line intact. The
teams were to play three periods that day and
" Boots ; ran four substitutes on the field when
the next one began. One of them was Steve.

It is no light task to play opposite the Varsity
captain and not come off second best, but the
concensus of opinion that evening was to the ef-
fect that Steve had done that very thing. The
wintery nip had got into Steve 's blood, I think, for
he played like a tiger-cat on the defence, ran like
a streak of wind and tackled so hard that Coach
Eobey had to caution him. Twice in that period
the first came storming down to the second's
twenty yards and twice they were held there.

244 LEFT END EDWABDS

Once Milton was nailed on a round-the-end run
and once Still fumbled a pass and Freer fell on it.

Steve carried out his part of a forward-pass
play with excellent precision later and seemingly
had a clear field and a touchdown in sight for a
moment. But Milton managed to upset him on
the thirty yards, and the gain — Steve had negoti-
ated four white lines before the 'varsity quarter
got him — eventually went for naught, since Mar-
vin fumbled a minute later and Sawyer squirmed
through and captured the ball.

Neither side scorednor camevery near it in that
period. Steve, who was having the time of his
life, beamed joyously when the whistle, starting
the third period, found him still in the line-up.
He had feared that ' ' Boots ' ' would put Sherrard
back. But Steve didn't realise the kind of a game
he had been putting up. If he had he would have
credited " Boots " with more sense. Tom, with
two brand-new facial contusions to his credit, was
relegated to the bench for the last round. Per-
haps " Boots " thought it only fair to allow Gaf-
ferty some of the decorations that Fowler and
others were handing out!

The first tried a kicking game in order to reach
striking distance and, since she always had the
better of the argument there, forced the second

LEFT END EDWAEDS 245

slowly and very surely back past the middle of
the field. Then Marvin, realising the futility of
pitting Freer and himself against Norton and
Williams and Milton, either one of whom could
outpunt the second from five to ten yards, started
a rushing game on his thirty-five yards, swinging
Harris and Freer around the ends for small gains
and himself taking the pigskin for a delayed
plunge through centre that put the scrubs on their
forty-five-yard line and gave them their first down
of the period.

But the next three tries pulled in only six yards,
and Freer punted. For once he had plenty of
time and the oval travelled far down into the en-
emy's territory and was caught by Kendall, wrho
took it back a scant five yards before Turner, the
second's left end, got past the hastily-formed in-
terference and upset him. The Varsity made
four through the left side of the line and got her
first down on a fake kick that caught the second
napping. She again secured her distance on three
tries, and the lines faced each other near the mid-
dle of the field.

What happened then was never definitely ex-
plained. Whether Milton fumbled the pass from
centre or whether Still missed the toss from Mil-
ton, history doesn't record. Not that it matters,

246 LEFT END EDWAEDS

however. The fact is that the ball was suddenly
seen to go rolling back up the field as though ani-
mated by a desperate desire to score a touchdown
on its own hook. The 'varsity backs hit the line
hard and went tumbling through, to the frenzied
shouts of " Ball! Ball! " from Milton and the
opponents. The latter, trying to get past the
Varsity and gain the bobbing pigskin, got so in-
extricably mixed up with the enemy that the ball
went on rolling around, under the pranks of the
helpful wind, for a heart-breaking length of time.
Then, as it seemed, every fellow on the field
started for it at once !

Steve had made a wild attempt to get through
inside of Andy Miller, but Miller had sent him
sprawling, and when he got to his feet again he
was one of the last in the mad rush. How it hap-
pened that Eric Sawyer, not overly fast on his
feet, reached the pigskin first, or, at least, finally,
is a mystery. But it was Eric who at length
plunged out of the confusion, ball in arm, shook
off three or four tacklers and started hot-footed
toward the distant goal. By some unusual burst
of speed he not only got a clear start of the rest,
but shot past Steve before that youth could inter-
cept him. Marvin had followed the others toward
the 'varsity's goal and now between Eric and the

LEFT END EDWARDS 247

final white lines, some forty-five yards distant, lay
a clear field. And Eric, spurred on by the knowl-
edge that here was perhaps the one chance of his
lifetime to make a spectacular run for half the
length of the gridiron and score a touchdown,
worked his sturdy legs as they had probably never
been worked before !

But he was not to go unchallenged. The enemy
was hot on his track, Steve in the lead. And with
the enemy, .doing their best to upset or divert the
pursuit, came a half-dozen of the 'varsity. It
was a wildly confused race for a minute. Then
the slow-footed ones dropped behind and the pro-
cession consisted of Eric, running desperately
some five yards ahead of Steve, Steve pounding
along at his heels, Williams striving to edge Freer
toward the side of the field, Marvin leading Cap-
tain Miller by a scant yard, and one or two others
dropping gradually away as the race progressed.
Near the twenty-five-yard line Williams managed
to upset Freer and went down with him in the
effort, Andy Miller drew even with Marvin, and
Eric glanced behind him for the first time, at the
same moment heading a bit further toward the
centre of the gridiron.

That move lost him a stride of his lead, anrl
Steve made a final spurt that took just about all

248 LEFT END EDWAEDS

the breath left in his body. On the fifteen yards
his hand went out gropingly, touched Eric's back
and fell away. Near the ten-yard line Steve
launched himself forward and his arms settled
about Eric's thighs, slid down to his knees and
tightened. Eric went down, dragged forward an-
other yard and then, panting and weak, gave it up.
Then Marvin settled ungently on his back, to make
assurances doubly sure, Andy Miller threw him
off very promptly and Steve rolled over on his
back and fought for breath.

The rest of the teams came panting up, the
audience along the side-line howled and cheered
gloriously, if a trifle breathlessly, having itself
raced down the field in an effort to keep abreast of
the drama, and delighted members of the second
team lifted Steve to his tottering feet, thumped
him on the back and shrieked praise into his sing-
ing ears.

After that, with the ball on the second's eight
yards, the 'varsity should have scored easily.
And yet, so gallantly did the scrubs dig their toes
into the trampled turf that thrice the Varsity was
held for a scant gain and, finally, with one down
remaining, Williams dropped back to the twenty-
yard line and dropped a field-goal.

" Boots " was almost moved to tears and looked

LEFT END EDWAEDS 249

as though, he wanted to embrace each and every
member of his team. For what was a puny three
points when the second had six to its credit? The
things that Miller said were extremely derogatory,
while Coach Eobey walked back to the middle of
the field with a disapproving air. In the four min-
utes that remained, there was football played that
was football! The 'varsity, smarting under im-
pending defeat, went at it with a desperation that
promised everything. That it failed of what it
promised was only because the second, buoyed up
by the knowledge of victory in its grasp, fought
like veterans. There was some fierce playing
during those two hundred and forty brief seconds,
and the fellow who finally trudged off the field
without a scar felt himself dishonoured. Substi-
tutes were thrown into the fray by both sides, al-
though " Boots,' having fewer men to call on,
was handicapped. Steve went out in favour of
Sherrard soon after the kick-off, and Tom relieved
Gafferty. The coaches raged and urged, the rival
captains scolded and implored and the quarters
danced around and acted like wild-men. And
then, suddenly, the ball was seized, a whistle blew
and it was all over. And the panting players,
tense of face, dripping with perspiration, drew
apart to view each other at first scowlingly and

250 LEFT END EDWARDS

then with slowly spreading grins, taking toll of
their own injuries and the enemy's.

" Good work, second,' said Mr. Eobey.
66 That's all for to-day. Get your blankets and
run all the way in. ' '

CHAPTER XX

BLOWS AKE STEUCK

THE second went off jubilantly. Steve was a hero
for an hour. In the locker room " Boots : said
some nice things to them, pointed out a few faults
and took himself away just as the first team and
its substitutes came piling in. Most of them
looked pretty grim about the mouths. Evidently
in the few minutes that Mr. Robey had detained
them on the field, they had been provided with
food for thought. Andy Miller encountered Steve
on his way to the bath.

«/

" That was good work, Edwards," he said
heartily. " You fellows certainly put it over us
to-day." He shook his head ruefully. " We
ought to have got that touchdown in the last
period.' Then he smiled grimly, and, " We'll
get you to-morrow, though,' he said with convic-
tion. " How's everything with you!

" Fine and dandy, thanks," replied Steve
heartily.

" Good! You haven't been around to see me,

251

252 LEFT END EDWAKDS

by the way. You and Hall must think a confi-
dence-man isn't a proper acquaintance.7

" We're coming around soon, Miller. The fact
is, I — well, I made such a mutt of myself that last
time '

66 Oh, nonsense! That's all right, Edwards.
Don't let that worry you. Besides, you took my
advice, I guess, and that squares it. Mind if I
give you some more, by the way?

66 Of course not! I wish you would.'

" Only this, Edwards. On defence don't watch
the ball. They'll tell you to, but don't do it.
Watch your opponent. Watch his eyes. He will
tell you when the ball's snapped. He's got to
watch it and you haven't, and then if you keep
your eyes on him you can guess where he's com-
ing almost before he starts. It may sound cheeky
for me to tell you this, because, as a matter of
absolute fact, Edwards, you played all around me
to-day-

1 < Oh, piffle, Miller ! ' '

66 Yes, you did," insisted the captain grimly.
" I know it, if you don't. But you try what I tell
you to-morrow and see what a jump you'll get on
the other fellow. Come around and see me soon,
you and Hall.'

Andy moved away and Steve hurried on to find

LEFT END EDWAEDS H53

a shower before the new crowd claimed them all.
He was pretty well fagged out this afternoon, and
for once the thought of that swimming class didn't
appeal. But after a tepid shower and then a hard
rush of ice-cold water over his tired body, he felt
different. Coming out of the bath he almost col-
lided with Eric Sawyer. Eric had a nasty cut
over his right eye that gave him a peculiarly ugly
expression, and it was soon evident that Eric's
temper was as ugly as his appearance.

" Hello, fresh," he growled, scowling at Steve
and barring his way in the narrow passage.
" What call had you to butt in on me to-day! "

" I was playing the game, that's all,' replied
Steve coolly.

" You think you're a wonder, don't you? Well,
you wouldn't have got me if I hadn't slipped.
And the next time you interfere with me on the
field or anywhere else I'll fix you for keeps. Now
you mind that, you fresh young kid.'

" You're a wonder at making threats, Sawyer,"
returned Steve angrily. i i Why don 't you do ;
something besides talk? "

"I'd give you a good thrashing if you weren't
so small,' Eric growled.

" Oh, that's all right,' replied Steve airily.
" We can't all have piano legs, you know."

254 LEFT END EDWAEDS

11 Say, you let my legs alone! For two cents
I'd tell what I know about you, you cheater, and
we'd see how long you'd stay so cocky! :

" What you know about me? laughed Steve.
" You go right ahead and tell anything you
want to, Sawyer. Whatever it is, it's a lie, I
guess.'

" Oh, is it? It's a lie that you swiped Upton's
blue-book with his composition in it, I suppose.
It's a lie that you were going to use it until Daley
went up to your room and found it, I dare say.
It's "

" Yes, it is a lie, and you know it, Sawyer,'
flamed Steve. " If you tell any story like that
around '

" I'll tell what I please, kid, and you can't stop
me.' Several fellows came along the passage,
viewing the two curiously, and Eric dropped his
voice a note. " You stop bothering me, Edwards,
or I will tell, and if I do, this place will be too hot
for you. We don't like cheaters here-

Steve sprang at him madly, but Eric stepped
aside and Steve's blow went past.

" None of that! " warned Eric in a low, ugly
voice. " Ah, you want it, do you?

Steve hit again and Eric countered and got in
a blow on the younger boy's neck that sent him

LEFT END EDWAEDS 255

staggering against the wall. Then arms wrapped
themselves around Steve and a voice said :

"Here, what's up, Eric? Cut it out, Ed-
wards! :

Steve, struggling, found himself in the firm
grasp of Innes, the big first team centre-rush.
" He called me a cheat! : he cried angrily.
" You let me go, Innes! :

" So he is a cheat,' returned Eric contemptu-
ously. " He swiped Carl Upton's French com-
position and was going to hand it in as his own if
Daley hadn't caught him at it! :

" That's a lie ! " cried Steve. " Ask Mr. Daley
himself! You're saying it because I kept you
from making that touchdown, you — you

"Hold on, Edwards!" said Innes. "Don't
call names.' By this time the passage had filled
with fellows, among them Andy Miller. Miller
pushed forward.

" What's up, Jack? " he asked of the centre.
Innes shrugged his big shoulders.

" Oh, just a scrap. Eun along, you fellows.
It's all over.'

" It isn't over! : ' declared Steve, still trying to
detach himself from the big fellow's grasp.
" He's got to take it back! He's got to take it
back or fight ! ' '

256 LEFT END EDWAEDS

" Cut it out, Edwards! " said Miller sternly.
" Don't act like a kid. What's the trouble, Eric,
anyway? "

1 i Oh, this kid got fresh with me, ' ' replied Eric
with a malevolent glare at Steve. " Said I had
piano legs- There was an audible snicker

from some of the audience — " and I told him to
shut up and he made a swipe at me and I shoved
him away. That's all."

" He said I cheated! " raged Steve.

" So you did. You stole Upton's French comp.
out of Daley's room and he found it on your
table."

11 That's a lie! I don't know how that book
got there. Mr. Daley will tell you "

" Cut it, Edwards! I saw you carry the
book out of the room myself! Now what do you
say! "

' ' I say you lie ! I say-

4 ' Stop that, Edwards ! ' ' Miller turned to Eric.
" You've got no right to say things like that, Eric,
and you know it. I don't believe he did anything
of the sort. If he had, Mr. Daley would have had
him expelled. Now you two fellows stop squab-
bling. You've been at it all the fall. If you
don't, I'll see that you both lose your positions.
And that goes ! ' '

LEFT END EDWAKDS 257

" Then tell him to let me alone, " replied Eric
with a shrug.

" Oh, forget it, Sawyer,' exclaimed a voice
down the passage. " You're twice as big as he is.
Let the kid alone.'

" Sure, I'll let him alone," growled Eric with
an angry glare in the direction of the speaker.
" Only he's got to stop getting fresh with me.
I've warned him half-a-dozen times.'

" And you'll have to warn me half-a-dozen more
times," responded Steve grimly, " if you think
I'm going to stand around and be called names.
If I were as big as you are, you wouldn't
dare "

" That'll be about all from both of you," said
Andy Miller. " Now beat it. If I hear of any
more trouble from either of you while the season
lasts, I'll have you both out of the game in a wink.
If you've got to row, do it after we've beaten Claf-
lin. Move on now! Get off the corner, all of
yez ! " And Andy good-naturedly pushed the fel-
lows before him down the passage. Innes re-
leased Steve, but stepped between him and Eric.

" Come on, Edwards,' he said with a laugh.
" Be good and get your clothes on. Cap will do
just what he says he will, too. You take my ad-
vice, kid, and bury the hatchet."

258 LEFT END EDWARDS

Steve went back to his locker, and with trem-
bling hands dressed himself. Harry Westcott and
Tom joined him and asked in low voices about the
trouble. But Steve was non-communicative. He
was wondering how much of Eric Sawyer's charge
the fellows who had heard it were believing.
Finally,

" No swimming to-day! " asked Tom.

Steve shook his head. " No," he answered.
" Tell the fellows, will you! I'm— I'm too tired.
I'm sorry.'

" It's pretty late, anyway," murmured Harry.
Together the three crossed the room toward the
door. Already, as it seemed to Steve, fellows
were regarding him suspiciously. Eric was not
in sight, having gone on to his bath, for which two
at least of the trio were thankful. Harry left
them at the corner of Torrence, and Steve and
Tom went on in silence to their room. Somehow
it seemed difficult nowadays for them to find things
to talk about. Steve resolutely sat himself down
and drew his books toward him, while Tom, after
fidgetting around for a few minutes, announced
that he was going over to the office to see if there
was any mail, and went out again. Steve was
glad when he had gone, for he was relieved then
of further pretence of studying. He couldn't get

LEFT END EDWABDS 259

his mind on his books. The encounter with Eric
Sawyer had left him irritable and restless, and he
couldn't help wondering whether the fellows be-
lieved what Eric had said. He was grateful to
Andy Miller for the latter 's support, but it was
doubtful if Andy's words had convinced anyone.
And the charge was an ugly one. Steve winced
when he considered it. It had seemed to him as
he had left the locker room that already the fel-
lows there had looked at him differently. He
could imagine them talking about him and weigh-
ing Eric's story. Further reflections were inter-
rupted by the reappearance of Tom, an open let-
ter in hand and several newspapers sticking from
a pocket.

"Nothing for you but a couple of papers,' he
said. " What do you suppose those silly fathers
of ours are doing now?

" Fighting a duel? " asked Steve with an at-
tempt at humour.

" Not quite," Tom answered, " but they're get-
ting ready for a law-suit."

" What about? "

" I can't make out," replied the other disgust-
edly, scanning the letter again. " It's something
about some contract for building supplies, though.
Gee, they make me tired! Always squabbling! "

260 LEFT END EDWAKDS

" Who's bringing the suit, your father or
mine! ' asked Steve.

" Mine," said Tom hesitantly.

" Then I don't see that you need to blame my
dad for it/ ' retorted Steve.

" It takes two to make a quarrel, though,' an-
swered Tom sagely. " I don't believe my father
would start anything like that unless — unless there
was some reason for it.'

" Oh, I suppose my father beat him out on a
contract and he got sore," said Steve, with a short
laugh. Tom looked across in surprise and puz-
zlement. The tone was unlike Steve, while never
before had they taken sides in their fathers' dis-
agreements. Tom opened his mouth to reply,
thought better of it and slowly returned the let-
ter to its envelope.

" I guess it'll blow over," he said finally. " I
hope so."

Steve shrugged his shoulders. ' * Let them fight
it out," he said. " It may do them good.'

The next day it was soon evident to Steve that
Eric Sawyer's story of the purloined Slue-book
was school property. Fellows whom he knew but
slightly or not at all observed him doubtfully,
others greeted him more stiffly — or so Steve
thought — while even in the manners of such close

LEFT END EDWAEDS 261

friends as Eoy and Harry and one or two more
lie fancied that he could detect a difference. Much
of this was probably only imagination on Steve's
part, but on the other hand there were doubtless
many fellows who for one reason or another chose
to believe the story true. Steve was popular
amongst a small circle of acquaintances and well
enough liked by others who knew him only to
speak to, but, naturally enough, there were fel-
lows in school who envied him for his success at
football or took exception to a certain self-suffi-
cient air that Steve was often enough guilty of.
These, together with a small number who owed al-
legiance to Eric Sawyer, found the story quite to
their liking and doubtless told and retold it and
enlarged upon it at every telling. At all events,
Steve knew that gossip was busy with him. More
than once conversation died suddenly away at his
approach, and he told himself bitterly that the
school had judged him and found him guilty. He
passed Andy Miller in the corridor between reci-
tations, and Andy, being in a hurry and having a
good many things on his mind at that moment,
said, " Hi, Edwards! : in a perfunctory sort of
way and went by with only a glance. Steve con-
cluded that even Andy was against him new, in
spite of his defence yesterday. In the afternoon

262 LEFT END EDWARDS

it seemed that there was a difference in the atti-
tudes of his team-mates on the second, and, so in-
flamed had his imagination become by this time,
he even imagined he detected a contemptuous tone
in " Boots' ' speech to him! The result was that
Steve " froze up solid," to use Roy's phrase,
and, secretly hurt and angry, presented a
scowling countenance to the world that was
sufficient to discourage those who wanted and
tried to let him see that they didn't believe Eric's
story.

When he got back to his room after the swim-
ming lesson that afternoon, he found Tom nursing
a very red and enlarged nose. He had a wet towel
in his hand and was gingerly applying it to the
inflamed feature.

11 What — where- began Steve.

" Scrap with Telford,' replied Tom briefly.

" What about? " demanded Steve.

6 i Nothing much. '

" Let's see your nose."

Tom removed the towel and Steve viewed it.
1 ' He must have given you a peach, ' ' he said criti-
cally. ' ' What did you do ? "

Tom smiled reminiscently. " Nothing much,'
he answered.

" Huh! Let's see your knuckles. ' Nothing

LEFT END EDWARDS 263

much/ eh! They look it! Did faculty get on
to it! "

Tom shook his head. " No, it was back of the
gym. Just the two of us. It didn't last long."

" Who got the worst of it? "

" That depends on what you call the worst," an-
swered Tom judicially. " I got this and he got
one like it and a black eye. At least I suppose it's
black by this time. It looked promising.'

Steve laughed. Then he said severely: " You
ought to know better than take chances like that,
Tom. Suppose faculty got on to it. Besides,
fighting's pretty kiddish for a Fourth Former! :

Tom viewed Steve amusedly over the wet towel.
" Coming from you, Steve, that sounds great! :
lie said.

" Never mind about me. What I do doesn't af-
fect you. What were you fighting about ? :

Tom looked vacant and shook his head. " I
don't know. Nothing special, I guess.'

" Don't be a chump! You didn't black his eye
and get that beautiful nose for nothing, I suppose.
What was it! "

" Well, Telford said— he said "

" You're a wonder! ; ' declared Steve. " Don't
you know what he said?

" I forget. It was something — something I

264 LEFT END EDWAEDS

didn't like. So I slapped his face. That was on
the gym steps. He said ' Conic on back here/ I
said ' All right.' Then we — we had it. Then he
said he was wrong about it — whatever it was, you
know — and we sort of apologised and sneaked
off.' Tom felt of his nose carefully. " I saw
about a million stars when he landed here ! :

" That's the craziest stunt I ever heard of! :
said Steve disgustedly. " And you want to hope
hard that no one saw it. If faculty hears of it,
you'll get probation, you chump.'

" I know. It won't, though. No one saw us.'

" Who's Telford, anyway! Steve demanded.

" Telforcl? Oh, he's a Fifth Form fellow."

" What does he look like? "

" Look like? " repeated Tom vaguely. " Oh,
he's a couple of inches taller than I am and has
light brown hair and — and a black eye ! ' '

"Is he the fellow who goes around with Eric

Sawyer? " demanded Steve suspiciously. " Y/ear

a brown plaid Norfolk? The fellow who shoved

?me into the pool the night we had that fracas with

Sawyer? "

" Did he? I don't remember, I didn't see
who did that. I- -I guess maybe he's the chap,
though. I've seen him with Sawyer, I think.'

" What did he say? " asked Steve quietly.

LEFT END EDWARDS 265

"Who say?"

" Telford."

"When? "

" To-day! When you had the row! For the
love of Mike, Tom, don't be a fool! "

" I don't remember what he said."

"Was it about— me! "

" You? Why would it be about you! " Tom
attempted a laugh.

" Was it? " Steve persisted.

Tom shook his head, but his gaze wandered.
Steve grunted.

" It was, then," he muttered.

" I didn't say so," protested Tom.

" I say so, though.' Steve was silent a mo-
ment. Then, " Look here, Tom, there's no use
your fighting every fellow who says things about
me,' ' he said. " If you try that, you'll have your
hands full. I — I don't care what they say,
anyway. Just you keep out of it. Under-
stand? "

1 1 Sure, ' answered the other untroubledly.

" Of course : -Steve hesitated in some embar-
rassment— " of course I appreciate your stand-
ing up for me and all that, but — but I'll fight my
own battles, thanks, Tom.'

" You're welcome,' murmured Tom through

266 LEFT END EDWAEDS

the folds of the towel. " Keep the change. I'll
fight if I want to, though. ' '

11 Not on my account, you won't,' said Steve
sternly.

Tom grinned. " All right. I'll do it on my
own account. Say, I'll bet Telford's nose is worse
than mine, Steve. I gave him a bully swat ! "

CHAPTER XXI

FKIENDS FALL OUT

ON the eleventh of November Brimfield played her
last game away from home. Chambers Techno-
logical Institute was her opponent. About every
fellow in school went over to Long Island and wit-
nessed a very sad performance by their team.
The slump had arrived. That was evident from
the first moment of play. Brimfield was out-
punted, outrushed and outgeneraled. Chambers
ran up 17 points in the first half and 13 more in
the last, while all Brimfield could do was to make
one solitary touchdown and a field-goal, the latter
with less than thirty seconds of playing time left.
Williams missed the goal after the touchdown by
some ten yards. Not only was Brimfield out-
played, but she showed up wretchedly as to phys-
ical condition. It was a warm day and the Ma-
roon-and-Grey warriors seemed to feel the heat
much more than their opponents and were a sorry-
looking lot by the end of the third period.

The second team attended the game in a body,
" Boots : for once relenting, and looked on in

287

268 LEFT END EDWARDS

stupefied sorrow while their doughty foe was hu-
miliated and defeated.

' ' Gee, I wish Robey would put us in in the next
half/7 sighed Gafferty to Steve after the second
period had reached its sad conclusion. " I'll bet
you we'd put up twice the game the 'varsity has.'

" I don't see what ails them,' ' responded Steve
quite affably. The calamitous drama unfolding
before him had for the moment made him forget
Ms role of aloofness and cynical indifference.
' ' Why, even Andy Miller is up in the air ! He
hasn't caught a pass once, and he's had four
chances, and he's missed enough tackles to fill a
book! "

" One grand slump," said Gafferty. " That's
what it is, Edwards, one wonderful, spectacular,
iridescent slump! And the only person who is
pleased is Danny, I guess. He's been begging the
'varsity fellows to get stale and be done with it.
And now they've obliged him. Too bad, though,
they couldn't have slumped the first of the week.
It's fierce to be beaten by a tech school! :

In the third period Coach Eobey hustled the
best of his substitutes on in the hope of stemming
the tide of defeat, and, while the new men showed
more dash and go, they couldn't stop the tri-
umphant advance of the black-and-orange enemy.

LEFT END EDWAEDS 269

To make matters worse, when it was all over, Ben-
son, who played right end, had a strained ligament
in his ankle, Williams was limping with a bad knee
and Quarter-back Milton had to be helped on and
off the cars like a confirmed invalid. There
wasn't a regular member of the Varsity who could
have stood up against a hard gust of wind five
minutes after the final whistle had blown!

The school returned to Brimfield disgruntled,
disappointed and critical. There was scarcely a
fellow on the train who didn't have a perfectly
good theory as to the trouble with the eleven and
who wasn't willing and eager to explain it. As
for the game with Claflin, now just a fortnight
distant, why, it was already as good as lost ! Any-
one would have told you that. The only point of
disagreement was the size of the score. That ran,
according to various estimates, from 6 to 0 to 50 to
3. It was a wonder they allowed Brimfield that
3 ! But all this was on the way home. Gradu-
ally the reaction set in and hope crept back. Af-
ter all, a slump was something you had to contend
with. It happened to every team some time in
the season. Perhaps it was lucky it had come now
instead of later. Of course, Chambers Tech was
only a fair-to-middling team and Brimfield ought
to have beaten her hands down, but since she'

270 LEFT END EDWARDS

iiadn 't, there was no use in worrying about it. By
tiie time supper was over that evening, the stock
of the Brimfield Football Team had risen to close
to par, and anyone who had had the temerity to
even suggest the possibility of a victory for Claf-
iin would have been promptly and efficaciously
squelched !

The Chambers game resulted in a shake-up.
That it was coming was hinted on Monday when
only a few of the substitutes on the first were given
any work and four of the second team fellows
were lifted from their places and shifted over to
what represented the Varsity that day. These
four were Trow and Saunders, tackles; Thursby,
centre, and Freer, half-back. On Tuesday the
first-string Varsity men were back at work, with
the exception of Benson, whose ankle was in pretty
bad condition. Thursby was given a try-out at
centre and Saunders at left tackle in the short
scrimmage that followed practice. Thursby
showed up so brilliantly that many predicted the
retirement of Innes to the bench. Saunders
failed to impress Coach Eobey very greatly and
he and Freer and Trow went back to the second
the next day. The slump was still in evidence
and the work was light until Thursday. Benson
was still on crutches and his place was being taken

LEFT END EDWAEDS 271

"by Eoberts. Thursby ran Innes such a good race
for the position of centre-rush that a substitute
centre named Coolidge suddenly found his nose
out of joint and faced the prospect of viewing the
Claflin game from the bench.

The school held its first mass meeting on Wed-
nesday evening of that week and cheered and sang
and whooped things up with a fine frenzy. The
discouragement of the Chambers game was quite
forgotten. Andy Miller, in a short speech, soberly
predicted a victory over Claflin, and the audience
yelled until the roof seemed to shake. Coach
Eobey gave a resume of the season, thanked the
school for its support of the team, pledged the
best efforts of everyone concerned and, while re-
fusing to say so in so many words, hinted that
Brimfield would have the long end of the score on
the twenty-fifth. After that the football ex-
citement grew and spread and took possession of
the school like an epidemic, Eecitations became
farces, faculty fumed and threatened — and bore
it, and some one hundred and fifty boys fixed their
gaze on the twenty-fifth of November and lived
breathlessly in the future.

There was a second mass meeting on Saturday,
a meeting that ended in a parade up and down the
Eow, much noise and a vast enthusiasm. Brim-

272 LEFT END EDWARDS

field had met Soutliby Academy in the afternoon
and had torn the visitors to tatters, scoring almost
at will and sending the hopes of her adherents
soaring into the zenith. To be sure, Sonthby had
presented a rather weak team, but, as an offset to
that, Brimfield had played without the services of
the regular right end, without her captain and with
a backfield largely substitute during most of the
game. There was nothing wrong with Andy
Miller, but it was thought best to save him for the
final conflict. The last fortnight of a football
season is a hard period for the captain, no mat-
ter how smoothly things have progressed; and
Brimfield had had a particularly fortunate six
weeks. Andy Miller was not the extremely nerv-
ous type, but, nevertheless, he had lost some four-
teen pounds during the month and was far
i i finer ' than Danny Moore wanted to see him.
So Andy, dressed in " store clothes/ saw the
Southby game from the side-line, hobnobbing with
the coaches and Joe Benson, still on crutches, and
with Norton, who, after smashing out two touch-
downs in the first period, was also taken out to be
saved.

There was no trace of the slump left, and the
final score that Saturday afternoon was 39 to 7,
and the school was hysterically delighted, which

LEFT END EDWAEDS 273

accounts for the added enthusiasm which kept
them marching up and down the Row in the even-
ing until the patience of a lenient faculty was ex-
hausted, and Mr. Conklin, prodded into action by
a telephone message from the Cottage, appeared
and dispersed the assembly.

The second team was to go out of business on
Thursday, and several members of it were eager
to end the season with a banquet. Freer and
Saunders dropped in on Steve and Tom Sunday
afternoon to talk it over and win their support.
It was a nasty day, rainy and blowy and cold, and
most of the fellows were huddling indoors around
the radiators. Steve and Tom, on opposite sides
of the table, were chewing the ends of their pens
and trying to write their Sunday letters when
the visitors came. Steve was studiedly haughty,
as, to his mind, became one who was unjustly sus-
pected of dishonesty. The visitors seemed puz-
zled by his manner and presently addressed them-
selves almost entirely to Tom, who, anxious to
atone for his room-mate's churlishness, was
nervously affable and unnaturally enthusi-
astic.

11 We don't see,' explained Saunders, " why
we shouldn't be allowed to have a banquet after
we quit training. We deserve it. We've done as

274 LEFT END EDWAKDS

much, in a way, as the 'varsity fellows to win from
Claflin. We've been the goats all the season and
it seems to me we ought to get something out of
it. What we want to do is to go to Josh and get
him to give us permission to have a blow-out in
the village Thursday night.'

" Or here,' supplemented Freer, " if he won't
let us go to the village. What do you fellows
think! "

" I think it's a good scheme," answered Tom.
" And we might get one over on the 'varsity, too.
I mean we'd have our banquet and lots of fun
whether we won from Claflin or not, while the
'varsity, if it loses the game, doesn't enjoy its ban-
quet very much, I guess."

" Well, will you fellows come around to Brow-
nell's room to-night after supper? Al is willing
enough, but, being captain, he doesn't want to
start the thing himself. We're going to see all
the fellows this afternoon and then have a sort of
a meeting this evening about eight. You'll come,
Edwards? "

li Yes, thanks."

" All right. Come on, Jimmy. We've got sev-
eral of the fellows to see yet.'

" There wouldn't be very many of us, would
there? " asked Torn. " Now that Eobey has

LEFT END EDWAKDS 275

pinched Thursby there's only about fifteen left
on the team.'

" Sixteen, but we thought we'd get Eobey to
come if he would, and t Boots,' of course, and
maybe Danny. That would make nineteen in all. '

" Where would you have it! Is there a hotel
in the village? "

" Not exactly, but there's a sort of a boarding-
house there; ' Larch Villa,' they call it. They'd
look after us all right. They've got a fine big
dining-room which we could have all to ourselves.
We haven't talked price with them yet, but Al
says we could probably get a good feed for about
a dollar and a half apiece. That wouldn't be so
much, eh? "

11 Cheap, I'd call it," said Freer.

" We'd have beefsteak and things like that, you
know,' continued Saunders enthusiastically,
" things that are filling. No froth and whipped
cream, you know! And lots of gingerale! "

" Sounds good," laughed Tom. " I wish it was
to-night. Do you think Mr. Fernald will let
us? "

" I don't see why not. I spoke to Mr. Conklin
about it and he said he would favour it if Josh
came to him about it. If he won't let us go to
the village, we thought maybe he'd let us have

276 LEFT END EDWARDS

our feed here after the regular supper, if we paid
for it ourselves. Well, you fellows show up about
eight. Don't forget, because we want to get the
whole bunch there and talk it all over and appoint
a committee to see Josh.'7

Tom was silent for a minute after the visitors
had departed. Then, hesitatingly, " Steve," he
said, " what's the good of acting like that with
fellows ? ' '

" Like what? " asked Steve.

" You know well enough. Freezing up and
talking as if you had a mouthful of icicles. You
might be — be decently polite when fellows come
in. Freer is a dandy chap, and Saunders is all
right, too. But you treated them as if they were
— were a couple of cut-throats.'

" I wasn't impolite," denied Steve. " As long
as those fellows choose to think what they do
about me, you can't expect me to slop over with
them.'

" You haven't any way of knowing what they
think about you," said Tom vigorously. " You
take it for granted that every fellow in school be-
lieves that yarn of Sawyer's. I don't suppose a
dozen fellows ever gave it a second thought. '

" I know better. Don't you suppose I can tell!
Almost every chap I know treats me differently

LEFT END EDWAEDS 277

now. Even — even Eoy — and Harry — act as if
they'd rather not be seen with me! "

' ' Oh, piffle ! ' ' exclaimed Tom indignantly.
" That's a rotten thing to say, Steve! Why, you
might as well say that I believe the yarn! :

11 You? " Steve laughed meaningly. " You
wouldn't be likely to."

" Then neither would Eoy or Harry. They
haven't known you as long as I have, but they
know you wouldn't do a thing like that.'

1(1 I don't see why not," replied Steve stub-
bornly. " The book was found on this table.
And Sawyer says he saw me with it. I guess it
would be natural for them to believe what Saw-
yer says.'

" They don't, though, as I happen to know," re-
plied Tom stoutly. " Even if you did bring the
book up here, that doesn't mean that you were go-
ing to — to use it. What really happened, I sup-
pose, was that you took it up without thinking
and didn't realise you had it when you came
back. ' '

Steve stared at him incredulously. " Well, of
all the cheek! " he gasped.

" What do you mean? " asked Tom.

" I mean that that's a fine thing for you to get
off," answered Steve indignantly. " You'll be

278 LEFT END EDWARDS

saying next that you saw bring the book in
here that night ! :

" I didn't, but — hang it, Steve, the thing ivas
here! You told me so yourself. I thought you
confessed that you brought it up without know-

ing.'

" Oh, cut it,' said Steve wearily. "I'm will-
ing to be decent about it, Tom, but I don't want
to listen to drivel like that.'

" Drivel? ' repeated the other, puzzled. " Say,
what's the matter with you, anyway, Steve?
I don't say you meant to cheat with the old book;
I know mighty well you didn't; I told Telford so
and convinced him of it, too; but I don't see why
you need to get so hot under the collar when I —
when I simply remind you that you did bring the
book up here ! ;

" So I brought it up, did I? " asked Steve with
an ugly laugh.

"Well, didn't you? Who did, then? You
know well enough I didn't.'

" Do I? How do I know it? Look here, Tom,
we might as well have a show-down right now. I
did not bring that blue-book into this room. I
did not take it out of ' Horace's'. But ' Horace :
found it on this table, poked under a pile of books.
Now, then, what do you know about it? "

LEFT END EDWARDS 279

Tom stared in wide-eyed amazement for a mo-
ment. " You — you mean to say you think I did
it? lie gasped finally.

Steve shrugged his shoulders.

" But — but you were here when I came back
from downstairs, Steve! You saw that I didn't
have it! "

" I didn't see anything of the sort. I didn't
notice whether you had anything in your hands
when you came in. Why should I? You might
have slipped it under your coat. There's no use
trying that game, Tom."

" Then why — why did you tell t Horace :
you took the book yourself if you knew you
didn't? "

" Because one of us must have, you idiot."

" Oh, I see,' answered Tom thoughtfully.
" You wanted to keep me out of it, eh? Look
here, Steve, what would I want with Upton's com-
position? My own was written two days be-
fore.'

Steve shrugged his shoulders again impatiently.
" That puzzled me. I didn't know. You did say
afterwards, though, that your own comp. was
pretty rotten. I didn't know but what-

il You have a fine opinion of me, haven't you? "
asked Tom bitterly. " You've known me ever

280 LEFT END EDWARDS

since we were kids at kindergarten and you think
that of me ! Thanks, Steve ! ' '

" Well, what "

" Now you hold on! I'm going to tell you
something." Tom was on his feet now, his hands
on the edge of the table, his gaze bent sternly on
his chum who was seated across the littered sur-
face. " I didn't even see that blue-book of Up-
ton's. I'll swear it wasn't on Mr. Daley's table
when I went down there. I know nothing of how
it got into this room. I tell you this on my word
of honour, Steve. Do you believe me ?

Steve's gaze met Tom's troubledly, then shifted.
" Oh, if you say so, I suppose I'll have to. But
if you didn't bring the book up here-

" That means you don't believe me," said Tom
quietly. " Very well. Now, one more thing,
Steve. ' ' Tom's eyes were blazing now, though his
face was white. " Don't you speak to me unless
you have to from now on, until you come to me
and tell me that you believe what I've told you! : '

" But, Tom, you can see yourself that it's
mighty queer! If you

" You heard what I said! Perhaps you think
I owe you something for trying to shield me from
Mr. Daley. I don't, though. When you set me
down for a cheat you more than squared that ac-

LEFT END EDWARDS 281

count. That's all. After this I don't want you
to speak to me."

Steve shrugged his shoulders angrily. " That
goes,5' he said. " When you want me to speak to
you, you'll ask me, Tom! And don't you forget
it!

Both boys went back to their letters in silence.
After a while Steve put on a raincoat and tramped
down the stairs and over to Hensey. He meant to
call on Andy Miller, but Andy was out and only
the saturnine Williams was in the room. Al-
though Steve had grown to like Williams very well,
yet, in his present mood, the right tackle was not
the sort of company Steve craved, and after a few
minutes of desultory football talk he went on.
He would have called on Roy and Harry, but now
that he and Tom had quarrelled they would, he
thought, side with Tom. In the end he found him-
self in the gymnasium. Several fellows were
splashing about in the tank and Steve joined them.
For an hour he forgot his troubles in performing
stunts to the envious appreciation of the others in
the pool. Applause was grateful to him that af-
ternoon, and when he had dressed himself again
and, avoiding the room, had gone across to Wen-
dell to wait for the doors to open for supper, he
felt better. Perhaps, he told himself, Tom really/

282 LEFT END EDWARDS

didn't know anything about that plaguey book, but
even so he needn't get so cocky about it ! Besides,
someone must have put the book on their table
and — well, the evidence was certainly against
Tom !

It wasn't much fun eating supper with Tom at
his elbow as grim and stiff as a plaster statue.
Fortunately, Steve was well into his meal before
Tom came in, and meanwhile there were others of
the second team to talk to if he wanted. With no
Torn to converse with he found it difficult to per-
sist in his role of haughty indifference toward the
others. Besides — and it came to him with rather
a shock — what they thought of him was no more
than he had been thinking of Tom! Hang it, it
was all pretty rotten! He'd like to choke Eric
Sawyer!

It didn't take the rest of the fellows at the
training table long to make the discovery that the
two friends were at outs. Trow, a pale-faced,
shock-haired chap, took delight in trying to engage
them both in conversation at the same time, there-
by increasing the embarrassment. Steve was
heartily glad when he had finished his supper and
could leave the table. Eeturning to his room
under the circumstances was not appealing, but
there seemed nowhere else to go. There was the

LEFT END EDWARDS 283

library, of course, but it was a dismal place on a
Sunday evening, and lie didn't want to read. But,
as it proved, he needn't have considered avoiding*
the room, for Tom didn't return after supper, and
Steve finished his letter home in solitude. At
eight he went over to Al Brownell's room in Tor-
rence, not because he was especially interested in
the project to be discussed, but because he had
agreed to attend the gathering and was glad, be-
sides, to get away from Number 12 Billings. Life
in Number 12 didn't promise to be very delightful
for awhile, he thought dolefully.

In Brownell's room Steve carefully took a posi-
tion as far distant from Tom as was possible.
There was a lot of talk and a good deal of fun,
and in the end Steve found himself chosen one of
a committee of five to call on the principal and
request the permission they desired. At a little
after nine he walked back to Billings alone. Tom
didn't return until- ten and then, with never a word
between them, they undressed and went to bed.
Steve didn't get to sleep very easily that night.
More than once he was sorely tempted to speak
across the darkness and tell Tom that he did be-
lieve him and that he was sorry. And I think he
would have done it, too, in the end if Tom had not
fallen asleep just then and announced the fact in

284 LEFT END EDWARDS v

the usual melodic manner. Whereupon Steve
frowned, punched his pillow and flopped over.

* i It isn 't bothering him any, ' ' he thought. ' ' If
he wants me to speak to him, he'll have to say so.
Cranky chump ! ' '

CHAPTER

STEVE GETS A SURPRISE

ME. FERNALD was surprisingly complaisant on

Monday when the committee from the second team

waited on him at the Cottage. He gave them per-

mission to hold their banquet in the village and

even said several nice things to them about their

share in the development of the Varsity. He

warned them against rowdyism, told them they

must be back promptly at nine o'clock and said

he hoped they'd have a good time! After which,

much surprised and not a little embarrassed, the

committee backed out of the room and returned

joyfully to spread the tidings. A second commit-

tee, headed by Saunders, had already been ap-

pointed to arrange for the banquet in case permis-

sion was secured and by Tuesday everything was

complete. I may say here that the event duly

came off on Thursday evening and was a big suc-

cess. But as neither Steve nor Tom was present,

our interest in the banquet is slight.

On Monday the Revieiu came out. The school
paper was published on the twentieth of the month,

285

286 LEFT END EDWAEDS

and the December issue contained, among other
features, a rather interesting resume of the foot-
ball season by Mr. Kobey and a list of the games
played to date. The coach's article was too long
to reproduce, but the summary of the season's con-
tests was brief enough to be set down here :

Sept. 30— Brimfield 10; Thacker Oct. 28— Brimfield 27; Cherry
3 Valley 6

Oct. 4— Brimfield 10; Canter- Nov. 4— Brimfield 12; Phillips
bury 7 0

Oct. 7— Brimfield 26; Miter Nov. 11— Brimfield 9; Cham-
Hill 0 bers 30

Oct. 14— Brimfield 3; Larchville Nov. 18— Brimfield 39; Southby

17 7

Oct. 21— Brimfield 0; Benton 0

Brimfield had played nine games, of which she
had won six, lost two and tied one, not a bad
record, as the Review rather complacently pointed
out, for a school whose football history dated back
but a few years. But Brimfield didn't waste much
time contemplating past performances. Had the
team won every game in its schedule by an over-
whelming score, the season would still be a dismal
failure if it lost to Claflin, just as, if it finally won
its big game, the school would rise up and call it
blessed even had it lost every other contest of the
season. In other words, Claflin was the only foe
that really counted, and the Claflin game was the
final test by which the Brimfield Football Team
stood or fell.

LEFT END EDWAEDS 287

Claflin School, at Westplains, New York, some
twelve miles distant from Brimfield, was a larger
school in point of enrolment, a very much older
school and far more " select." I don't intend to
imply by that term that the Claflin students were a
finer set of fellows than those at Brimfield.
Doubtless they would have averaged up about the
same. But Claflin liked to be considered " se-
lect " and so I might as well accord her the dis-
tinction. Claflin had been educating the youth of
New York and surrounding states for almost a
hundred years, and nowadays fathers applied for
admission for their boys about as soon as the
boys were born. The school was in that respect
like a club with a long waiting list. If a boy
wasn't " entered ' by the time he was five or six
years old at the latest, he stood small chance of
getting in when the time came.

Claflin had won from Brimfield three years on
end, or ever since they had been playing together.
She had started out by according Brimfield a mid-
season date. The following year she had placed
the game a week later and last year she had put
it last on her schedule, Brimfield having by then
proved herself an adversary of real merit. Oddly
enough, Claflin had for some time been without a
special rival and had gladly bestowed the honour

288 LEFT END EDWAKDS

on the Maroon-and-Grey as soon as the latter had
shown herself worthy. This fall Claflin had had
an unusually successful season, having played
seven games and won all but the last, that with
Larchville. Larchville, who had defeated Brim-
neld 17 to 3, had also taken the measure of Claflin
to the tune of 12 to 6. Brimfield read of it in the
Sunday papers and took comfort. After all, Claf-
lin was not unbeatable it seemed. Her defeat by
Larchville, coupled with Brimfield 's overwhelming
victory over Southby, lent next Saturday's game
a roseate glow, viewed from a Brimfield view-
point. In fact, by Monday Brimfield was almost
confident of at last winning from the Blue, and the
question of a proper celebration of the victory
was up for discussion. Of course it should be a
whopping big bonfire, with a parade and speeches
and singing and plenty of music ! But Brimfield
had never yet celebrated such a stupendous event
and consequently there were no precedents to
guide them. Neither was it known what attitude
faculty would take in regard to such an affair.
But a few choice spirits in the upper forms made
tentative arrangements to the extent of picking
out a likely spot in a corner of the athletic field
for the fire and locating such loose material as
might come in handy as fuel.

LEFT END EDWARDS 289

Monday's practice was short and easy. Even
the second had an off-day. The Varsity players
were given a blackboard lecture in the meeting-
room in the gymnasium after supper and were put
through an examination on plays and signals. On
Tuesday the practice was as stiff as ever. Coach
Eobey was not altogether satisfied with the de-
fence, and there were forty-five minutes of the
hardest sort of scrimmage in which the second
was given the ball at various distances from the
Varsity goal and told to put it over. The field
was closed to spectators that day and it was hard
hammer-and-tongs football all the way. " Boots :
drove the second with whip and spurs and the
second responded nobly. But the best it could do
was to drop a field-goal over the bar in the third
period of the scrimmage, after having been held
a half-dozen times by a desperate adversary.
Steve played about as well that afternoon as he
had ever played in his life. For once he had no
worries on his mind. To be sure, there was still
his falling-out with Tom and his quarrel with the
school at large, but those things seemed rather to
lend him a new strength than to bother him. He
played with a dash and a reckless disregard for
life and limb that made Coach Eobey observe him
with a new interest. Tom performed with his cus-

290 LEFT END EDWAKDS

ternary steadiness and more than once put it over
on Fowler and on Churchill, who substituted him.
They were some three dozen very tired youths who
finally straggled back to the gymnasium when the
work was over.

On Wednesday the last real practice of the sea-
son was to be held, since the Thursday perform-
ance was more in the nature of an exhibition for
the school than real work, and on Friday afternoon
the team was to journey over to Oakdale, on the
Sound, and remain there until Saturday forenoon.

/ «/

But the weather proved unkind on Wednesday.
In the middle of the forenoon the wind veered
around to the south and a drizzle of rain set in.
By three o'clock the drizzle had grown into a very
respectable downpour and the gridiron was slow
and slippery. But Mr. Robey was not to be de-
terred and, with Danny Moore anxiously hover-
ing about like a hen with a batch of ducklings, the
Varsity was put through a half -hour of signal
work, punting and catching. Then the second,
wet and muddy, came across to the first team grid-
iron and the two elevens leaped at each other
again. Danny followed close behind, cautioning
and scolding, and more than one player was
dragged out of the melee and sent off to the gym in

spite of the coach's pleas and protestations.

LEFT END EDWARDS 291

" I'll not have them hurted," reiterated Danny
stubbornly. " 'Tis no sort of a day for hard
work, Coach. I've got 'em through this far an'
I'll not be havin' them breakin' their legs an'
arms for the sake of a bit of practice, sir."

* i Hang their arms and their legs ! ' ' fumed Mr.
Eobey. " They might as well not have any as
start the game Saturday half-baked! Give me a
chance, Danny! :

" 'Tis takin' big chances, sir, playin' 'em on this
sort of a field."

" Then we'll take chances! " growled the coach.
6 i Now get in there, first, and rip it up ! Show
what you can do ! You 've got six to go on third
down; put it over! Wait a minute! Thursby!
Get in there for Innes and hold that centre of the
line steady.'

" Trot all the way in, my boy, and get a good
rabbin','1 directed Danny to the discomforted In-
nes. "Hi! Put your blanket on! Are you
crazy? "

" Play lower there, Hall! Throw them back,
second! ; ' entreated " Boots." " Don't let them
have an inch! :

Then the first piled through Brownell for three
yards, slipping in the mud, panting, grunting to
the accompaniment of thudding feet and the sivisfo

292 LEFT END EDWARDS

of wet canvas. Above the players a cloud of
steam hovered as they disentangled themselves.
Danny darted into the confusion. Benson was on
his back, thrashing his arms.

' ' Water ! ' ' bawled Danny.

A helper raced on with a slopping pail.
Danny's fingers went exploring.

" Ankle/ groaned Benson, and Danny shot a
triumphantly accusing look at Coach Robey. In
a minute Benson was being helped off and the
game was on again, but Mr. Robey showed a dis-
tinct aversion to meeting the trainer's glance.
Later, in the gymnasium, it was known that Ben-
son had hurt the bad ankle again and would not
be able to play the game through on Saturday,
even if he was allowed to get into it at all. Coach
Robey accepted the tidings with a shrug and a
scowl.

" Fine ! " he said sarcastically. " Claflin's left
end is the best player they've got. Roberts will
stand a fine chance against him! Look here,
Danny, I thought you said Benson's ankle was all
right? "

"So I did! And so it was all right!"
sputtered Danny. "But I didn't say he could
go out an' play on a field like that to-day, did
I?"

LEFT END EDWARDS 293

" All right. It can't be helped now. Where's
Captain Miller? "

Danny bent his head backward toward the rub-
bing room. " In there,' he answered shortly.

" Heard about Benson? " asked the coach.

Andy, looking a trifle pale and tired, nodded
silently as the rubber kneaded his back. Mr.
Eobey frowned a moment.

" You'll have to change over," he said finally.
Andy grunted agreement. " And we'll have to
take Turner or Edwards from the second to-mor-
row and beat him into shape.'

" Edwards is the better," said Andy.

" I suppose so. If he played the way he played
yesterday and to-day he might have a chance
against Mumford. Still '

" I'd better take that end," said Andy. " Let
Eoberts start the game at left and then put in
Edwards — unless Benson mends enough.'

" He won't," said the coach pessimistically.
" You can't play end with a sore ankle. He's out
cf it, Andy. Tough luck, too. I'll find Edwards
and tell him to join the squad to-night. He's got

to learn signals and plays and The coach's

voice dwindled into silence and he gloomed frown-
ingly out the window. " I wish now I'd let
Danny have his way," he lamented. " We could

294 LEFT END EDWARDS

have run through plays indoors and had a hard
practice to-morrow. Well- He shrugged

his shoulders again and his gaze came back to
Andy. " How are you? " he asked. " You look
a bit fagged.'

" I'll be all right after supper," replied the
captain. " I'll be glad when Saturday night
comes, though." And he smiled a trifle wanly as
he slipped off the table.

Mr. Eobey grunted. " So will I. Somehow,
this year seems to mean more, Andy. Still,
there's no use in worrying about it. Much better
not think of it any more than you can help.'

" I know,' agreed Andy as he wrapped a big
towel about his glowing body and moved toward
the door, " but when you're captain it — it's a
whole lot different. There's Edwards over there.
Shall I call him! "

The coach nodded. " I think so. He's better
than Turner, isn't he? Left end is Turner's posi-
tion, though."

" Edwards '11 take to it quick enough. He's got
more bulldog than Turner has, too. I guess he's
the man for us. Oh, Edwards! Will you come
over here a minute? "

Steve pushed his way through the crowded
aisles, past Thursby who winked and grinned and

LEFT END EDWARDS 295

whispered " You're going to catch it! : ' past Tom
who turned his head away as he approached, past
Eric Sawyer, a big hulk in a crimson bathrobe,
who scowled upon him, and so to where, by the
rubbing room door, the captain and coach awaited
him. It was Mr. Robey who brusquely made the
announcement. The coach was anxious and tired
to-day and his voice was harsh.

" Edwards, you join the 'varsity to-night. We
may have to use you at left end. Benson's pretty
badly hurt, I understand. Be upstairs at eight-
fifteen promptly. You've got to learn the signals
and about fifteen plays before Saturday. Tell
your coach I've taken you, please.'

" Yes, sir.' Steve's eyes, round and question-
ing, turned to the captain. Andy smiled a little.

" Rather sudden, eh? " he asked. " Do your
best to learn, Edwards. Get the signals and plays
down pat. There isn't much time, but you can do
it if you'll put your mind on it. You wanted to
make the 'varsity, you know, and now you've done
it, and here's your chance to make good, Edwards.
But you've got to work like thunder, old man! :
He laid a hand on Steve's shoulder and his fingers
tightened as he went on. " Everyone's got his
hands full right now, you see, and there's no one
to coach you much. You've got to buckle down

296 LEFT END EDWAEDS

and learn things yourself. You can do it, all
right. And on Saturday, if you get in — and I
can't see how you can help it — you've got to play
real football, Edwards. Think you can do all
that! "

" Yes." Steve's heart was thumping pretty
hard and his breathing was uncertain, as though
he had raced the length of the field with a pig-
skin tucked in the crook of his arm, and his gaze
sought the floor for fear those two would read the
almost tragic ecstasy that shone in them. " Yes,'
he repeated, < l I '11 learn. And I '11— I '11 play ! ' '

1 i All right. You'd better join the 'varsity table
to-night. See Lawrence about it. That's all.'
Coach Eobey nodded and turned away. Andy
Miller, following, paused and stepped back. One
hand clutched the folds of the big towel about
him, the other was stretched out to Steve,

" I'm glad, Edwards," he said in a low voice as
Steve's hand closed on his. Steve nodded. He
wasn't quite certain of his voice just then.
' t You '11 do your best for us, won 't you, old man ?

Steve gulped. " I— I'll play till I drop," he
muttered huskily.

CHAPTER XXIII

DURKIN SHEDS LIGHT

STEVE felt frightfully lonely that evening. He
wanted so much to talk over his good fortune
with Tom. But Tom, very grave of countenance,
sat in frozen silence across the table and never so
much as glanced his way. Had he done so he
might have caught one of the wistful looks bent
upon him and, perhaps, relented. Not being able
to discuss the amazing thing which had happened
to him, detracted at least half the pleasure, Steve
sadly reflected. Of course Tom knew of it, for
Steve had sat at the Varsity training table at sup-
per-time and he could still hear in imagination the
buzz of interest that had. filled the hall when,
somewhat consciously skirting the second team
table, he had walked to the corner and sank into
a seat between Fowler and Churchill. They had
been very nice to him at the Varsity table. Only
Eoberts, who might be expected to view his ap-
pearance with misgivings, had eyed him askance.
Poor Joe Benson was confined to the dormitory.
Thursby, himself only a recent addition to the big

297

298 LEFT END EDWAKDS

squad, grinned at Steve from the length of the
long table in a way which seemed to say : ' ' They
had to have us ! I guess we fellows on the second
team are pretty bad, what? "

But now, back in his room, with his books spread
out before him and his mind in a strange tumult
of elation and fear and dejection, he hardly knew
whether to be glad of or sorry for his promotion.
Study, at all events, was quite out of the question
to-night, but luckily he was well enough up in his
lessons to be able to afford one hour of idleness.
He considered writing home to his father and re-
counting the story of his good fortune to him, for
it seemed that he must talk to someone about it,
and he even dragged a pad of paper toward him
and unscrewed his fountain pen. But, after trac-
ing meaningless scrawls for several minutes, he
gave it up. He didn't want to write a letter; he
wanted to talk to Tom!

He saw the hands of his watch creep toward the
hour of eight, after which he might give up pre-
tence of study, don a sweater and a pair of canvas
' ' sneakers ' ' and go over to the gymnasium. The
thought of that and of the next three days put him
in a blue funk. What if he couldn't learn the
signals, or, having learned them, forgot them in
the game? What if he disappointed Andy and

LEFT END EDWABDS 299

Coach Robey when the time came? He had
visions of getting his signals mixed, of fumbling
the ball at critical moments, of losing the game
through his stupidity. There were times when he
devoutly hoped that Joe Benson would recover the
use of that ankle and get into the contest so that
he [Steve] might not be called on to take part!

Then, at last, eight o'clock struck sonorously in
the tower of Main Hall, and he closed his books
with a sigh of relief, piled them up and went to
the closet. When he was ready to go out Tom was
still bent over his studies. Steve hesitated a mo-
ment with his hand on the knob. He wanted Tom
to wish him luck. He wondered if Tom guessed
how sort of lonesome and scared he felt. But
Tom never even raised his eyes and so Steve went
out, closing the door softly behind him, and made
his way through a dripping rain to the lighted
porch of the gymnasium. Only a half-dozen fel-
lows were there when he reached the meeting
room. The settees had been moved aside and the
floor was empty and ready for them. Steve
nodded to the others and perched himself on one
of the low windowsills to wait. In twos and threes
the players stamped up the stairs, laughing, jost-
ling. Milton and Kendall, entering together,
seized each other and began to waltz over the

300 LEFT END EDWAEDS

floor. Steve wondered how they could take such
a serious business so light-heartedly. Then Joe
Lawrence, the manager, a football unde* his arm,
came in with Williams and, glancing at his watch,
began calling the roll. In the middle of it Coach
Robey and Andy Miller and Danny Moore arrived.
More lights were turned on and Mr. Eobey swung
the blackboard on the platform nearer the front.

" We'll try Number Six," he announced. Very
quickly and surely he scrawled the formation on
the board, added curving lines and dotted lines,
dropped the chalk and faced the room. " All
right, Milton. First-string fellows in this and the
rest of you watch closely."

' ' Line up ! " chirped Milton. ' ' Formation
A! ; The players sprang to their places, their
rubber-soled shoes patting softly on the boards.
" 21—14—63—66! " called the quarter. " 21—
14_63 »

The backs, who had shifted to the left in a slant-
ing tandem, trotted forward, the ball was passed,
the line divided and Still slipped through.

" Norton, you were out of position,' said Mr.
Eobey. " Look at the board, please. Your place
is an arm's length from left half. You've got to
follow closely on that. Try it again, please.'

So it went for nearly an hour, the substitutes

LEFT END EDWARDS 301

gradually taking the places of the first-string
players. Steve, who had had the signals ex-
plained to him earlier, managed to get through
without mistakes, but as an end he had little to do
in the drill. After the coach had watched them
go through some fourteen plays, the settees were
dragged out into the floor again, the players
seated themselves and the coach drew diagrams
and explained them and examined the squad in
signals as he went along. It was all over at a
little after nine, but not for Steve. Andy Miller
took him back to his room with him and for a
good half-hour Steve was coached on formations,
plays and signals. When, finally, he -went back to
Billings his head was absolutely seething and it
was long after eleven before sleep finally came to
him. When it did, it was a restless and disturbed
slumber that was filled with dreams and visions.

He awoke earlier than usual the next morning,
feeling almost as tired as when he had gone to
bed. But, although he strove to snatch a nap be-
fore it was time to get up, sleep refused to return
to him. His mind was too full. Across the room
Tom was snoring placidly, both arms clutched
about a pillow and his face almost buried from
sight. Steve envied him his untroubled state of
mind. Then he began to go over what he had

302 LEFT END EDWARDS

learned the evening before and found himself in
a condition of panic because for the life of him
he couldn't remember half of the stuff that had
been hammered into his tired brain! Steve was
not the only fellow at training table that morning
who showed a distaste for the excellent breakfast
that was served. More than one chap looked pale
and anxious and only trifled with the food before
him. Steve stumbled through recitations, earn-
ing a warning look from " Uncle Sim,' managed
to observe more or less faithfully the schedule he
had set for himself and turned up at dinner table
with a very good appetite. After dinner he wrote
a notice and posted it on the bulletin board in the
gymnasium.

" No Swimming Classes until Monday. S. D.
Edwards.''

The school turned out to a boy that afternoon
and paraded to the field to watch the final prac-
tice. Massed on the grand stand, they sang their
songs and cheered the players and the team all
during a half-hour of signal drill and punting.
There was no scrimmage until the first-string men
had trotted off the field. Then the Varsity sub-
stitutes and the second team faced each other for
fifteen minutes and the second scored a field-
goal. Steve played at left end on the substitute

LEFT END EDWAEDS 303

eleven, made one or two mistakes in signals and
failed at any time to distinguish himself. But the
game was slow and half-hearted, for the substi-
tutes were continually warned against playing too
hard and so risking injury. When it was over,
the second cheered the Varsity, the subs cheered
the second and the spectators formed two abreast
again and trailed across the field to the gymna-
sium and there once more cheered everyone from
Captain Miller and Coach Eobey down to the last
substitute — who was Steve — Danny Moore and
Gus, the rubber. It had drizzled at times during
the afternoon, but before the final " Bah, rah,
Brimfield ! Eah, rah, Brimfield ! Eah, rah, Brim-
f-i-e-1-d ! : ' had died away, the clouds broke in the
west and the afternoon sun shone through. This
was accepted joyfully as a good omen and the
crowd outside the gymnasium broke into a chorus
of ecstatic " A-a-ays! :

Practice was over early, and at half-past four
Steve, parting from Tlmrsby at the corner of
Wendell, made his way along the Eow, half wish-
ing that he had not cancelled the swimming hour
to-day. At the entrance to Torrence a voice
hailed him from the doorway, and " Penny
Durkin, wild of hair and loose-limbed, stepped out.

" Hello," said Durkin. " Say, I've got the

304 LEFT END EDWAKDS

dandiest rug upstairs you ever saw, Edwards.
It's a regular Begorra.'

" Wliat's a Begorra! asked Steve with a
smile.

" Oh, it's one of those rare Oriental rugs, you
know. ' '

" You mean Bokhara,' laughed Steve.

Durkin blinked. " Something like that,' he
agreed. " Anyway, it's a peach. Come up and
have a look at it."

" No, thanks. I'm not buying rugs to-day.'

" Tell you what I'll do," pursued Durkin, un-
dismayed. " I'll fetch it over to your room and
you can see how it looks. It's got perfectly won-
derful tones of — of old rose and — and blue
and "

" Nothing doing, Durkin. We don't need any
rugs."

" You're missing a bargain,' ' warned the other.
" Say, I've still got that shoe-blacking stand I
told you about. No, I didn't tell you, did I? I
left a note under your door one evening, though.
Did you get it? "

" Note? Why, yes, I think so. Yes, we got it.
I'd forgotten."

Durkin chuckled. " That was the time I gave
Sawyer the scare."

LEFT END EDWAEDS 305

" How? " asked Steve idly.

6 < Didn 't he tell you 1 ' '

" Sawyer! Not likely." And Steve smiled.

" That's so, I did hear that you and he were
scrapping one day. You used to be pretty
chummy, though, didn't you? "

" Never," replied Steve with emphasis. Dur-
kin blinked again and looked puzzled.

" Well, he was trying to find you that night.
So I supposed '

" What night? "

' i The night I went to tell you about that shoe-
blacking stand. It's almost as good as new, Ed-
wards '

" You say Sawyer was looking for me that
night? How do you know? He couldn't have
been, because I'd met him earlier in the hall
downstairs."

" I don't know. He said he was. Anyhow, he
was in your room "

11 Sawyer? " demanded Steve incredulously.
< ' Eric Sawyer ? ' '

Durkin nodded.

" You're crazy," laughed Steve.

66 Well, he was," answered the other indig-
nantly. " He came out just as I was tucking that
note under the door and fell over me and let out a

306 LEFT END EDWAKDS

yell you could have heard half-way to New York.
You see, I didn't know there was anyone there. I
knocked at first and thought I heard someone
moving around in there. Then I tried the door
and it was locked "

' ' You had the wrong room, ' ' said Steve. * ' We
never lock our door except when we go to bed.'

" Wrong room nothing! You got the note,
didn't you? Well, I didn't leave any notes any-
where else.'

' t But — now, look here, Durkin. I want to get
this right. You say you went to our room and
knocked and- Was there a light there?

" No. The transom was dark. When I
couldn't get in I went back down the corridor to
where the light is and scribbled that note. Then
I went back and tucked it under the door. I guess
I didn't make much noise because I had a pair of
rubber-soled shoes on and so Sawyer didn't hear
me. Anyway, he opened the door just then and it
was fairly dark there and he nearly broke his silly
neck on me. Scared me, too, for the matter of
that! I didn't think there was anyone in there.
Say, is there anything up? You look sort of
funny. ' '

" N-no, nothing much. You're sure it was
Sawyer who came out ? ' '

LEFT END EDWARDS 307

" Of course I'm sure. He let out a yell and
picked himself up and began to scold. Wanted
to know what I meant by it and I said I was stick-
ing a note under your door and he said ' Oh ! ' and
something about wanting to see you and waiting
for you. Then he said he guessed you weren't
coming back yet and he'd go on.'

" What time was this, Durkin? "

" Oh, a little after eight, I suppose; half -past,
maybe. I stopped to see Whittaker on the floor
below, I remember. He said he'd look at that
stand, but he never did. If you want a bargain,
Edwards, now's your chance. I'll let you have
it for a dollar and a quarter. It cost two and a
half. I bought it from "

" Oh, confound your old stand! Look here,
Durkin, will you tell Mr. Daley just what you've
told me if I want you to I "

6 'Eh?" asked Durkin in alarm. " Oh, I
don't know. I don't want to get anyone into
trouble. I- -I'd rather not, I guess. You see,
Sawver "

" If you will, I — I'll buy your old shoe-blacking
stand or your rug or — or anything you like ! ' '
said Steve earnestly. " Will you? "

61 Why, maybe I might if you put it that way.
The rug's two dollars."

308 LEFT END EDWARDS

" All right,' answered Steve impatiently.
* l Where are you going to be for the next hour ? ' '

" Upstairs, practising. Come and see it any
time you like. It really is a peach, Edwards, and
it's scarcely worn at all. It — it's a prayer rug,
too, and they're scarcer than hens' teeth nowa-
days! "

But Steve was already yards away and Durkin
shrugged his shoulders and turned back into Tor-
rence.

" Wonder what's up,' he murmured. "I'd
hate to get Sawyer into a scrape. Still, if he will
buy that rug "

CHAPTER XXIV

THE DAY BEFORE THE BATTLE

TOM was attiring himself in his Sunday best. It
was almost six o'clock and one of Hoskins' barges
was to leave Main Hall at half -past with the mem-
bers of the second team, for this was the evening
of the banquet in the village. Tom didn't feel
unduly hilarious, however. He was sorry that the
football season was over, for one thing, for he
loved the game. And then existence of late had
been fairly wearing and mighty unsatisfactory.
His quarrel with Steve was a tiresome affair and
he didn't see just how it was to end. For his part,
in spite of the fact that his churn had hurt him
a good deal by his mean suspicion of him, he
was ready to make up, only — well, he had some
pride, after all, and it did seem as if the first over-
tures should come from Steve. No, on the whole,
Tom wasn't looking forward to the banquet with
any great amount of enjoyment. If Steve was

going to be there, too

Someone came hurrying down the corridor, the
room door flew open and there stood Steve him-

309

310 LEFT END EDWAEDS

self, a radiant and embarrassed look on Ms face,
his gaze searching the room for Tom. His face
fell a little as he found the room apparently
empty, and then lighted again as his glance dis-
covered Tom at the closet door, Tom half -dressed
and with a pair of trousers dangling over his arm.
Out went Steve's hand as he turned.

"I'm sorry, Tom,' he said simply. " I was
a beast."

Tom took the hand that was offered and
squeezed it hard.

" That's all right," he stammered. " So was
I."

" No, you were right, Tom," answered Steve
convincedly. " I hadn't any business suspecting
you of a thing like that. And — and I want to tell
you first that I knew I was wrong a long time ago,
before this happened. You believe that, don't
you? "

" Yes, Steve, but — what is it that's hap-
pened! "

" It's all clear as daylight,' said Steve, grin-
ning happily as he seated himself on the bed and
tossing his cap toward the table. " It was Saw-
yer did it. He put up the whole job. He fessed
up when ' Horace ' got at him. Durkin met him
coming out and — — "

LEFT END EDWARDS 311

" Hold on! : begged Tom. " I don't quite get
you, Steve ! ' '

Steve laughed. " Sort of confused narrative,
eh? Well, listen, then. Drop those trousers and
sit down a minute.'

" All right, but the barge leaves at half-
past-

" Never you mind the barge, old man! You're
not going in it. I'll come to that later, though.'

" Take your time,' said Tom, dropping into a
chair. " I love to hear your innocent prattle."

' ' Shut up ! It 's like this, Tom. I met Durkin
awhile ago and he got to talking about that shoe-
blacking stand. Remember the note he left here
that night! " Tom nodded. " Well, it came out
that while he was putting it under our door Eric
Sawyer walked out and fell over him.'

" Out of here? "

" Eight-o! Sawyer said he'd been waiting to
see me. Now you remember I'd seen him coming
out of Daley's room earlier, eh? Well, it seems
that Sawyer saw a chance to put up a game on me.
So after I'd gone upstairs again, he sneaked back
to * Horace's : room, got that confounded blue-
book of Upton's and waited his chance. After
we'd left the room he came up here and slid the
thing among some books on the table there.

312 LEFT END EDWARDS

f
While he was in here Durkin came along and

knocked and Sawyer slipped over and locked the
door. Then he waited until he thought Durkin
had gone and unlocked the door again and carne
out. But old Durkin had written a note to us
down under the light and come back with it and
he was putting it under the door when Sawyer
came out and fell over him. Of course, when
Durkin told me that I had a hunch what had hap-
pened and I hot-footed it to ' Horace.' He con-
fessed that it was Sawyer who had told him he'd
seen me carrying off the book. So he streaked
off after Sawyer, found him somewhere and took
him to Durkin 's room. Sawyer-

" Were you there too? " asked Tom excitedly.

" No, he told me to wait in his study for him.
He was back in about a half-hour looking sort of
worried. Of course Sawyer had to own up. He
told ' Horace : that he'd just done it for a joke,
but ' Horace : didn't believe him for a cent.
And there you are! " Steve ended in breathless
triumph. Tom viewed him round-eyed.

" What — what about Sawyer? " he asked.

" I don't know for certain, but I think Saw-
yer's on pro. Anyway, Tom, I know this much:
You don't go to any old banquet to-night. "

" I don't? Why don't I? "

LEFT END EDWAEDS 313

tl Because I met Lawrence downstairs a few
minutes ago. He was looking for you.'

" Wh-what for? " asked Tom faintly.

66 Robey says you're not to break training,
Tom! You're to report at the Varsity table to-
night for supper! " Whereupon Steve, his eyes
dancing, jumped from the bed and pulled Tom to
his feet. l l What do you say to that, old Tommi-
kins? " he exulted.

Tom, dazed, smiled weakly. " Do you mean —
do you mean they want me to play? : he mur-
mured.

" Oh, no,' scoffed Steve, pushing him toward
the bed on which he subsided in a heap. " They
want you to carry the footballs and sweep the
gridiron! Of course they want you to play, you
old sobersides! Don't you see that with Sawyer
on pro there's a big hole in the line! I suppose
they'll give Churchill the first chance at it, but
he won't last the game through. Think of both
you and I making the 'varsity, Tom! How's that
for luck, eh! Not bad for the old Tannersville
High School, is it? I guess we've gone and put
Tannersville on the map, Tom! "

66 Gee, I'm scared! " muttered Tom, looking up
at Steve with wide eyes. " I — I don't believe I'll
do it! "

314 LEFT END EDWAEDS

" You don't, eh I Well, you're going to do it!
Get your old duds on and hurry up. It's after

six. ' '

" I'll have to tell Brownell I'm not going to the
feast.' Tom gazed fascinatedly at his best
trousers draped across the chair back. " Any-
vray, I wasn't keen on going — without you,' he
murmured.

" There's only one drawback,' said Steve a
few minutes later, when they were on their way
to supper. " And that is that I promised Durkin
to buy a rug from him.'

" A rug? We don't need any rug, do we? !
asked Tom.

" Not a bit. But this is a genuine Begorra;
Durkin says so himself. And I agreed to buy it
if he'd tell i Horace : about Sawyer. Unless —
unless you'd rather have the shoe-blacking stand,
Tom? "

11 I would. If we had that, perhaps you'd keep
your shoes decent! "

Steve tipped Tom's cap over his eyes. " Eude
ruffian! " he growled affectionately.

There was no practice at Brimfield Friday, for
as soon as the last recitation of the day was over
the 'varsity team and substitutes piled into two
of Hoskins' barges in front of Main Hall to be

LEFT END EDWAEDS 315

driven over to Oakdale, some five miles distant.
The school assembled to see them off, and there
was much hilarity and noise. Joe Lawrence,
note-book in hand, flustered and anxious, mounted
the steps and called the names of the squad mem-
bers.

" Benson! "

" Here,7 ' responded Benson from where, at the
far end of one of the barges, he sat, crutches in
hand, looking a bit disconsolate.

" Churchill, Corcoran, Edwards, Fowler, Glea-
son, Guild, Hall, Harris, Innes — Innes? "

" Coming fast ! : ' shouted a voice from the edge
of the throng, and the big centre, suit-case in
hand, pushed his way toward the barges.

" Right through! " laughed the fellows. " Hit
the line, Innes! A-a-ay! "

" Kendall," continued Lawrence. " Lacey,
Marvin, Miller, Milton, McClure, Norton, Eoberts,
Still, Thursby, Williams! "

" All present and accounted for,' announced
a voice in the crowd. * ' Home, James ! :

Coach Eobey and " Boots " appeared. Danny
Moore, who with Gus, the rubber, sat on the
driver's seat surrounded with suit-cases, took the
bags, Joe Lawrence and Tracey Black, assistant
manager, squeezed into the already overcrowded

316 LEFT END EDWAKDS

barges, Blaisdell, baseball captain, called for a
cheer and, amidst a thunderous farewell, the
squad, grinning and waving, disappeared down
the drive, through the gate and out on to the
road.

Oakdale was fairly deserted at this time of
year. Most of the summer cottages were closed,
but the little hotel kept open the year around,
and when, at four o 'clock, the barges pulled up in
front of it, fires were snapping in the open fire-
places and everything was in readiness for the
squad's reception. Followed a very merry and
rather boisterous time while the fellows, bags in
hand, sought their rooms to don their togs and
report for light practice on the lawn. There was
only signal drill to-day, and that was brief. Aft-
erwards the centres practised passing and the
kickers limbered up a little, but by five the work
was over and the fellows were free to do what
they liked. Some gathered around the two big
fireplaces in the hotel, others went for strolls
along the road, and still others, Steve and Tom
amongst the number, sought the little cove nearby
where a diminutive and rather pebbly beach
curved from point to point and a boat-landing
stuck out into the quiet water. The trees and
grass went almost to the edge and there were com-

LEFT END EDWARDS 317

fortable benches along the bank from which one
might look across the Sound to the Long Island
shore or watch the boats pass. It had been a fair,
mild day and the light still held. Steve and Tom
sauntered down to the float and Steve dipped an
inquiring hand into the water.

" Say, that isn't a bit cold," he announced.
" What do you say to a swim, Tom! :

" Fine, only we haven't any suits."

" Maybe they've got some at the hotel. Let's
ask. ' On the way up they met Norton, Williams
and Marvin. " Come on in swimming, fellows,'
called Steve.

" Can we! " asked Norton. " Who says so? "

" Why not? We're going to see if we can find
some trunks or something."

66 All right. You'd better ask the coach,
though." This from Marvin. " He's in the of-
fice, I think. If you find any trunks bring some
for us, Edwards."

The clerk was rather dubious at first, but
eventually returned with a miscellaneous collec-
tion of bathing togs from which the boys finally
evolved three pairs of trunks and two suits.
Meanwhile Mr. Robey had given hesitant per-
mission.

66 If the water's very cold, Edwards, don't try

318 LEFT END EDWARDS

it, please. And, in any case, don't stay in
more than ten minutes. That goes for all of
you. ' '

There was a bathing pavilion farther along,
reached from the little beach by a flight of wooden
steps, and to this the five boys proceeded, examin-
ing the attire the clerk had provided with much
amusement.

" I won't be able to swim a stroke,' declared
Norton. " I'll just be doubled up laughing at
Hath in that blue-striped thing he has there.'

66 Huh," growled Williams, " I don't think
you'll get any prizes for beauty yourself! :

By this time the news of their exploit had gone
out and other fellows were hurrying to the hotel
to seek bathing suits. A few secured them and
the rest followed down to watch. When they met
outside, dressed for the plunge, the five went off
into gales of laughter. Hatherton Williams in a
blue-and-white-striped suit many sizes too small
for him cut a ridiculous figure, while Norton,
whose faded red trunks had lost their gathering
string, held his attire frantically with one hand
and implored a pin! Tom's trunks were strained
to the bursting point and Steve's were inches too
large for him. Only Marvin had fared well, being
dressed in what he called " a real classy two-piece

LEFT END EDWARDS 319

suit." The two pieces didn't matcli in either
colour or material, but they nearly fitted and, un-
like Hatherton Williams' regalia, were innocent
of holes. Norton declared that he was extremely
glad it was getting dark, since otherwise if the
pin one of the onlookers had supplied him with
gave way, he 'd have to stay in the water.

Steve and Marvin led the way to the float and
they all plunged in. Tom, shaking the water
from his head, faced Steve accusingly when he
had regained his breath. " Thought you said it
wasn't cold!" he shrieked. " It's freezing!
Br-r-r! :

66 Move around and get warm," advised Nor-
ton, striking out. " It isn't bad when you get
used to it."

But Tom, accustomed to the tempered water of
the school tank, groaned and refused to be opti-
mistic. " Bet it isn't a bit over forty-five,' he
muttered.

Steve was already well out in the cove, pur-
sued by Norton. Some of the boys who had failed
to find suits had launched a decrepit rowboat and,
with one broken oar, were splashing about near
the float. Far out in the Sound a big white
steamer passed eastward, her lights showing
white in the gathering darkness and the strains

320 LEFT END EDWARDS

from her orchestra coming faintly across the quiet
water. The boys in the rowboat stopped skylark-
ing to discuss what steamer it was, and Marvin,
who had swam up behind and laid hands on the
gunwale, told them that it was the Lusitania and
that if they didn't agree with him he'd tip them
over. Discussion ceased at once. The four mar-
iners instantly declared that he was right.
Churchill even went so far as to say that he had
known it was the Lusitania all the time; that he
could always tell her by her funnels. Innes, who
was seated in the stern and filling his position to
the limit, acknowledged that for an instant — oh,
the merest fraction of a second! — he had thought
the steamer was the Ne'er-do-well, Berlin to Kan-
sas City, but that he had seen his mistake almost
instantly! By which time, the Priscilia, New
York to Fall River, had passed out of sight, and
Marvin, merely tipping the boat until the water
ran in a bit over one side, just as a mark of es-
teem, swam off before Guild could reach him with
the broken oar.

Tom and Williams were paddling about not far
off the landing, Tom floating on his back most of
the time and complaining about the temperature
of the water, when Norton swam up, puffing and
blowing.

It was Steve, Steve on his back, with only his head and

shoulders above the water

THE NEW YORK
1IC LIBRARY

TOR, IV \ND

LEFT END EDWAKDS 321

" Where's Steve? " asked Tom. Norton
nodded toward the Long Island shore.

" Somewhere out there,' he answered. " He
was too much for me. I had to quit. The chump
swims like a — a dolphin. I'm going in, fellows.
I'm getting cold.'

66 I guess we'd all better," agreed Williams.
"Hello! What's that? "

" Help! From somewhere beyond the mouth
of the little cove the cry came, sharp, imperative,
and was repeated again while they listened.

11 It's Edwards,' muttered Norton uneasily.
" I suppose he's only trying to get a rise out of
us. He can swim like "

11 Must be," agreed Williams. " Can you see
him? "

The cove was dim now and the surface of the
water beyond held a sheen of light that confused
the vision.

" I 'm not sure, ' ' muttered Norton. ' l I thought
I did — for a minute.'

" Who was that yelling out there? " shouted
one of the fellows in the boat.

" Must be Edwards," answered Williams.
" Can you see him?

" No. Do you suppose "

" Help! This way!" The cry came again,

322 LEFT END EDWABDS

fainter now, and someone in the boat seized the
broken oar and began to churn the water with it,
sending the crazy craft circling about in its
length.

" He's in trouble! " cried Norton. " Cramps,
probably. I'm off, Hath. Will you. cornel
Where's Hall? "

" He started a minute ago,' answered Wil-
liams, striking out with long hard sweeps of legs
and arms. " There he is, ahead.7

" Come on with that boat, you fellows! '
shouted Norton. ' ' And hurry it up ! "

CHAPTER XXV

TOM TO THE EESCUE

" WE'VE only got one oar," answered a desperate
voice.

" Put it over the stern and scull it,' directed
someone on the float. There was a splash in re-
ply, and Innes, who had promptly vacated his
seat, crawled dripping to the landing. Hatherton
Williams, Norton and Marvin were already swim-
ming desperately toward the mouth of the cove,-
while several fellows on land were running hard
to the point, following the curving shore. The
rowboat was at last under way, but making slow
progress. Norton was the best swimmer of the
trio, or, at least, the fastest, and Williams and
Marvin were soon hopelessly in the rear. But
Norton, if he could distance the other two, found
that he was gaining but slowly on Tom, who,
swimming as he had never swam before, as he
didn't know he could swim, was already well out
toward the mouth of the cove.

His limbs were aching already, and his lungs
were hurting as he fought his way through the

323

324 LEFT END EDWARDS

water and against a slow-coming tide. But the
only thought that possessed him was that Steve
was in trouble out there, perhaps drowning, and
that he must get to him. The water splashed into
his eyes and blinded him, for Tom was not an
adept swimmer, and not once could he so much as
sight Steve. Neither was the appeal for help re-
peated and Tom's heart sank. Behind him, as he
was dimly aware, others were following, and he
wished they would hurry. Once, when he was
opposite the points, he tried to call, but his lungs
were too tired to respond in more than a whisper.
Then he was past the gloom of the cove, the
water was alight with the afterglow and little
choppy waves dashed against him. Gasping, he
paused an instant, brushed one arm against his
dripping face and looked about him. For a mo-
ment nothing met his anxious gaze. Then a
darker spot on the darkening water appeared a
dozen yards away and Tom went on desperately,
panic-stricken for fear that when he reached it it
would prove to be only a bit of driftwood.

But it wasn't. It was Steve, Steve on his back,
with only his head and shoulders above the water,
eyes closed in a dead-white face and his arms
weakly moving now and then as though in an un-
conscious endeavour to keep the helpless body

LEFT END EDWAKDS 325

afloat. A great wave of relief and joy almost
stopped Tom's heart for an instant. Then his
hand went out and caught one of Steve's wrists.

" It's all right, Steve,' he gasped weakly.
" Don't grab me. They're coming with the
boat."

There was no reply from Steve, and Tom, pull-
ing the arm over his shoulder, as he had seen
Steve himself do so many times in the tank when
illustrating the way to rescue a drowning person,
felt the weight of the inert form on his back as
he turned and strove to swim slowly back toward

the cove. To swim with one arm, even to keep
himself afloat so, was no light task for Tom, and
now, with the weight of Steve's body bearing him
down, he found the struggle too much for him.
He relinquished all attempts to swim and centred
his efforts in keeping afloat. If only Norton and
the rest would come ! He listened. There was a
splashing somewhere nearby, but it was too dark
now to see a dozen feet away. Tom drew all the
breath he could find into his lungs and let it out
in a weak shout.

" Help! " he gasped. " Here! "

Then there was an answering hail from close
by, a mighty churning of the water and a dim
form plunged alongside.

326 LEFT END EDWARDS

" Have you got him? " cried Norton. " Give
him to me, Hall. Hath! Over here! :

Tom didn't relinquish quite all his burden,
though. He still had one of Steve's arms around
his neck when, a minute later, Marvin and Wil-
liams having reached them meanwhile, the row-
boat appeared out of the darkness. It was no
light task to get Steve into the boat, but it was
accomplished somehow, and then, Tom dragging
astern, hands clutching the gunwale grimly, and
the others, too, claiming at least partial support
from the boat, the rescuers turned shoreward.
Wisely, Churchill, who handled the oar, headed
the boat toward the nearer point, and when the
keel grounded, eager hands were waiting to lift
Steve out and hurry him back to the hotel. Tom
crawled out of the water and subsided
on the bank, still fighting for breath and feeling
rather sick at his stomach. Between Fowler and
Milton he was lifted and half carried, weakly pro-
testing that he could walk all right and promptly
crumpling up when they allowed him to try.

Steve had been taken up to the room he was
occupying, and Danny Moore was administering
to him when Tom was brought in and laid on his
bed. Steve was already talking weakly and
Danny was telling him to keep still.

LEFT END EDWAEDS 327

" Don't be talking, " lie said. " Fit that bottle
to your back and keep covered up. You'll be fine
in an hour. An' who've you got there? Well, if
it ain't my old friend Jim Hall! :

Tom smiled faintly as Danny bent over him.

" An' so you been tryin' to drown yourself too,
have you? continued Danny. " Well, well, 'tis
queer tastes you have, the two of you! Drink a
bit o' this, Jim, and lie still.'

Mr. Eobey came in and Danny nodded reassur-
ingly to him. " They'll be fine as fiddles in an
hour, Coach. Now you boys scatter out o' here
an' leave them have a bit nap."

Tom didn't remember much for awhile after
that, for he must have fallen promptly to sleep.
When he awoke, the light was turned low and
Steve was sitting on the edge of the bed. On a
chair beside him was a tray from which appetizing
odours curled toward him. Tom blinked sleepily.

" Hello,' he murmured. " What's up? "

" I am and you're not,' answered Steve.
" I've brought you some supper. Are you hun-
gry? "

Eecollection returned then and Tom observed
his chum anxiously.

" Are you all right? " he demanded. " Did
they say you could get up? "

328 LEFT END EDWAEDS

" Of course. You can too after you eat. But
you were asleep and Danny said you might as
well have it out. How are you feeling?

Torn sat up experimentally and took a deep
breath. " All right,' he answered stoutly, al-
though as a matter of fact he was full of stiff
spots and queer aches. " And — and I'm hun-
gry. ' '

" Good stuff! " laughed Steve. He lifted the
tray to Tom's lap and took th£ covers from the
dishes. " There isn't an awful lot here,' he
added apologetically, " but Danny said you'd be
better if you didn't eat such a big supper. Do
you mind?

11 No, I guess there's enough. That soup
smells good. What's that there? Eoast beef?
Fine ! ' ' And Tom fell diligently to work.

Steve watched in silence a moment. Then,

" I say, Tom," he said.

" Huh? " asked the other, his mouth full.

" You know I- -I'm much obliged.'

Tom nodded carelessly. " All right," he said
in a gruff voice. " It wasn't anything. Norton
and Williams and those others did it.'

" You got there first," said Steve. " I guess if
you hadn't I — I wouldn't have waited for the rest.
It was mighty plucky, and — and I-

LEFT END EDWAKDS 329

" Oil, cut it,'' growled Tom. " It wasn't any-
thing, you ass. What the dickens did you go
away out there for anyway? Tom became in-
dignant. " Haven't you got any sense!

" Not much,' laughed Steve. Then, soberly,
" It's the first time I ever had cramps, and I don't
ever want them again ! I thought I was a goner
there for a while, Tom. They caught me right
across the small of my back and I couldn't any
more move my legs than I could fly. All I could
do was shout and wiggle my arms a bit, and the
pain was just as though something — say a sword-
fish — was cutting me in two ! : Steve shook his
head soberly. " It — it was fierce, Tom! "

11 Serves you right! You had no business
swimming way out there in water like that and
scaring us all to pieces! " Tom was very severe
as to language, but the effect was somewhat
marred by the fact that he had filled his mouth
with food. Nevertheless, Steve took the rebuke
quite meekly. All he said was :

i i And think of you rescuing me, Tom ! Why,
you aren't any sort of a swimmer! But it cer-
tainly was mighty pluck-
Tom pointed a fork at Steve and interrupted in-
dignantly. It was necessary to head Steve off
from further expressions of gratitude. " I like

330 LEFT END EDWAKDS

your cheek! : said Tom. " Can't swim! How
do you suppose I got out there to you, you silly
chump? You didn't see any water-wings or life-
preservers floating around, did you? Or do you
think I walked? Can't swim! Well, of all
the "

" You know what I mean, Tom. I meant you
couldn't swim — er — well, that you weren't a won-
der at it! "

"Huh!" grunted Tom. "Don't you talk
about swimming after this. You weren't doing
much of it when I got to you ! ' '

" No one can swim when he has cramps," re-
sponded Steve meekly. " How was the supper? "

Tom gazed at the empty dishes. " All right —
as far as it went. I'm going to get up. What
time is it and what's going on downstairs? "

" Nothing much just now. We just got
through supper. They're taking the chairs and
tables out of the dining-room so we can have sig-
nal drill at eight. Mr. Eobey said you were to
get into it if you felt all right. There's someone
else downstairs who wants to see you too." And
Steve grinned wickedly. " I told him I'd try to
arrange an interview. ' '

" Who is it? ' asked Tom suspiciously.

" His name is Murray."

LEFT END EDWARDS 331

" I don't know any Murray. What is this, a
joke? "

" Far from it, Tom. Mr. Murray is a news-
paper man. He came over to get the line-up for
to-morrow's game from Mr. Eobey and got here
just as they were talking about that silly stunt
of mine. He laid around and waited for me and
got it all out before I knew he was a newspaper
chap. Now he wants to see you. I think he
wants your photograph, Tom ! ;

" You were a silly ass to talk to him, Steve. He
will go and put it in the paper, I suppose. :

" Wouldn't be surprised,'1 agreed Steve, smil-
ing. " He seemed to think he had a fine yarn.
Of course I laid it on pretty thick about your
heroism and all that."

Tom viewed him darkly as he got into his coat.
" If you did I'll— I'll "

" Take me back to the Sound and drop me in
again! No, I didn't, Tom, but he does know all
about it and of course he will put it in the papers.
4 Boots ; says the — the Something-or-Other Press
will get hold of it and send it all over the country.
I've been wondering whether we ought to tele-
graph the folks so they won't have a fit if they
read about it to-morrow.'

"What's the use! They'll know you're all

332 LEFT END EDWARDS

right. Bet you that Mr. Newspaper Man doesn't
catch me, though! Who's that hitting the
ivories? "

" Gleason, I guess. He was playing before
supper. He's fine, too. Knows a whole bunch of
college songs and stuff from the musical shows.
We're going to have a concert after practice.
They say Danny Moore can sing like a bird.
Andy was telling me that last year they had a
regular vaudeville show here. Everybody did
something, you know; sang or danced or spoke a
piece. It must have been lots of fun. I
wish "

Steve, who had been wandering around the
room, hands in pockets, paused as he caught the
expression on Tom's face. "What's the mat-
ter?" he asked.

" That's what I want to know,' replied Tom.
" Seems to me you're mighty chatty all of a sud-
den. Is it the effect of the bath? "

Steve smiled, sighed and shook his head.
" Tom,' he said, " I've just got to talk or do
something this evening. I — I'm as nervous as a
— a cat! Ever feel that way?

Tom viewed him scornfully as he patted his tie
into place. " Have I? Why, you silly chump,
I'm scared to death this minute! Whenever I

LEFT END EDWABBS 333

think about — about to-morrow I want to run down
to the ocean and swim straight across to Africa ! :

" Honest! Steve brightened perceptibly.
" But you don't show it, Tom."

66 What's the good of showing it? All I hope
is that the barge will make so much noise going
back to-morrow that you won't hear my knees
knocking together ! ' '

CHAPTEB XXVI

AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF

SATURDAY dawned clear and crisp, with a little
westerly breeze stirring the tops of the leafless
trees and fluttering the big maroon flag with the
grey B that hung from the staff at the back of the
grand stand. That was not the only flag dis-
played, for here and there all along the Eow small
banners hung from windows, while to add to the
patriotic effect all the red and grey cushions in
school were piled against the casements to lend
their colour. There were few recitations that
morning and there might just as well have been
none, I fancy. The squad got back from Oakdale
at one-thirty, after an early dinner, and were
driven directly to the gymnasium, pursued by the
school at large with vociferous greetings.

Claflin began to put in an appearance soon
after that. Hitherto Brimfield had travelled to*
Westplains to meet her rival, and this was the
first time that the Blue had invaded the Maroon-
and-Grey fastness. Hoskins did a rushing busi-
ness that day, for Claflin had sent nearly her en-

334

LEFT END EDWARDS 335

tire population with the team, and many of the
visitors were forced to walk from the station.
There was an insouciant, self-confident air about
the Clafiin fellows that impressed Brimfield and
irritated her too. " You'd think,'7 remarked
Benson, watching from a window in the gym the
visitors passing toward the field, " that they had
the game already won ! A stuck-up lot of dudes,
that's what I call them! " But Benson was not
in the best of tempers to-day and possibly his
judgment was warped !

The Clafiin team arrived in one of Hoskins'
barges and took possession of the meeting-room
upstairs to change into their togs. They were a
fine-looking lot of fellows, and they, too, had that
same air of confidence that Benson had found
annoying. By a quarter past two the stage was
set. The grand stand was filled to overflowing,
the settees and chairs, which had been brought
out to supplement the permanent seats, were all
occupied, and many spectators were standing
along the ropes. Over the stand the big maroon-
and-grey banner floated lazily in the breeze. The
field had been newly marked out and the cream-
white lines shone dazzlingly in the sharp sun-
light. It was a day for light wraps and sweaters,
but many visitors, arriving in motor cars that

336 LEFT END EDWARDS

•

were now parked behind the gymnasium, were
clad in furs. It was distinctly a social occasion,
for fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, aunts and
uncles had descended upon the school in numbers
and half the fellows were parading around before
the hour set for the game with admiring rela-
tives or friends, showing their rooms and the
dining-hail and the gymnasium, and looking all
the time a bit bored at the fuss and secretly en-
joying it. Harry Westcott was seen with his
father and sister in tow, while Roy Draper was
surrounded bv an enthusiastic flock of female

relatives.

Overhead a clear blue sky, scarcely so much
as flecked with a cloud, arched radiantly. The
breeze was much too light to place a handicap
on either goal, and when, at a quarter after two,
the visiting team trotted across from the gym-
nasium, ducked under the rope at the end of the
grand stand and started to warm up it was seen
that the long punts she sent away showed scarcely
any influence from the wind. Of course Claflin,
banked at the east end of the stand, greeted her
warriors royally, and, of course, Brhniield gave
them a hearty cheer, too. But that acclaim was
nothing to the burst of applause that went up
when the home team, twenty strong, led by Andy

LEFT END EDWABDS 337

Miller, romped on. Then Brimfield shouted her-
self hoarse and made such a clamour that the
cheer which the Clafim leaders evoked a mo-
ment later sounded like a whisper by com-
parison.

Ten minutes of brisk signal work, punting,
catching and goal-kicking followed, and then,
while along the road an occasional screech from
a belated automobile sounded, the teams retired
to opposite sides of the field, the maroon-and-grey
megaphones, which had been keeping time to a
song sung by some hundred and thirty youths,
died away and the comparative quiet that pre-
cedes the beginning of battle fell over the field.
The officials met on the side line and then, ac-
companied by Captain Miller, walked to the cen-
tre of the field. From the farther side a blue-
sleeved and blue-stockinged youth advanced to
meet them. A coin spun, glittering, in the air,
fell, rolled and was recovered. Heads bent above
it, the group broke up and Andy Miller waved to
his players. Then blankets and sweaters were
cast aside and ten maroon-sleeved youths gath-
ered about their leader. There was a low-voiced
conference and the team scattered over the east
end of the field. Brimfield had won the toss, had
given the kick-off to Claflin and Captain Burrage

338 LEFT END EDWAEDS

had chosen the west goal and what slight advan-
tage might come from a breeze at his back.

Andy Miller and the two coaches had arranged
the line-up the evening before. There had been
some indecision as to filling one or two positions
for the start of the game, and the line-np as it
was presented when the whistle blew held several
surprises for the school. Here it is, and the Claf-
lin list as well:

BRIMFIELD. CLAFLIN.

Eoberts, 1. e r. e., Chester

Lacey, 1. t r. t., Mears

Fowler, 1. g r. g., Colwell

Innes, c c, Kenney

Hall, r. g 1. g., Johnson

Williams, r. t 1. t., Bentley

Miller, r. e I.e., Mumford

Milton, q. b q. b., Ainsmith

Harris, 1. h. b r. h. b., Burrage

Kendall, r. h. b 1. h. b., Whittemore.

Norton, f . b f . b., Atkinson

"Are you ready, Brimfield? Eeady, Clanin?"
The whistle piped, a Claflin linesman stepped
forward, swung a long leg and the battle was on.
Williams caught the ball on the thirty-yard line.
On a fake kick play Miller tried Claflin 's right
tackle and made but two yards. Norton punted
to Claflin 's thirty, where Burrage fumbled the

LEFT END EDWAKDS 339

ball and Ainsmith recovered U. Claflin at once
punted out of bounds to Brimfield's forty-five-
yard mark. Kendall made three yards around
the enemy's right end and then, on the next play,
failed at the line. Milton tried a forward pass
to Miller, but the ball grounded and Norton
kicked to Clafiin's twenty-yard line.

Two tries by the Blue netted little and she
again punted and the ball was Brimfield's on her
own forty-seven yards. Harris failed to gain
through Claflin 's left tackle and Brirnfield was
penalised fifteen yards for holding. On a criss-
cross against left tackle Harris was tackled for a
loss and Norton then punted to Whittemore and
the latter ran the ball back fifteen yards before
he was stopped. On a try through Hall the Blue 's
full-back failed to gain. But on a second attempt
at the other side of centre he smashed through
for seven yards. A delayed pass by the Clafiin
quarter gave his side first down on Brimfield's
thirty-five-yard line. Atkinson again tried Hall
and gained less than a yard. Ainsmith attempted
the Brimfield left end and was thrown by Harris

•'

for a five-yard loss. Captain Burrage tried Brim-
field's right end and failed. With one down left
and fifteen yards to £rain Burrage tried a forward
pass. It was successfully captured, but the dis-

340 LEFT END EDWABDS

tance was short and the pigskin went to Brirnfield
on her thirty-eight yards.

Norton punted on first down and Claflin re-
turned it. Kendall misjudged the ball and it
rolled to the Maroon's twelve yards. Milton fell
on it there. Kendall and Norton gained two yards
each through centre, and Norton punted to Brim-
field's forty-five yard line, where Burrage made
a fair catch.

The stands grew very quiet while the Claflin
quarter-back poised the ball. Then Burrage
stepped forward and sent it speeding away. But
the kick was short and Norton caught the ball on
his five-yard line and, behind excellent interfer-
ence, ran it back to the thirty-yard line before he
was thrown bv Chester. From there Norton

punted to the Blue's thirty and Claflin returned
the punt on first down to her adversary's forty
yards. Harris caught it, but was nailed in his
tracks by Mumford, who made a spectacular
tackle which won applause from friend and foe
alike. Time was called for an injury to Mum-
ford, but he was soon on his feet again.

Claflin was penalised for off-side on the next
play. Norton went through right guard for first

down and Brimfield shouted joyously. Kendall
failed to gain. Norton made a yard and then

LEFT END EDWAKDS 341

dropped back to kick formation. The play, how-
ever, proved to be a forward pass to Koberts.
Eoberts was out of position and the pigskin was
intercepted by the Clafiin quarter. It was then
rthe Blue's ball on her forty-five yards. Hall let
the runner through for a yard and Claflin pulled
off a successful forward pass to her left end on
Brimfield's thirty-nine-yard line. The Blue's
full-back was stopped in an attempt on the oppo-
site right tackle and a penalty for off-side brought
the ball to near the middle of the field. Claflin
then punted to Brimfield's seven yards and the
whistle sounded the end of the first quarter.

The stand cheered while the players traversed
the field to line up under the shadow of the west
goal.

Brimfield thrust Norton at the Clafiin centre
when the play began again and the big full-back
made three yards. Then he dropped behind his
goal-line and punted, the ball going out of bounds
at the twenty-four yards. Claflin cheered loudly
as the teams lined up.

Claflin 's full-back made a yard through the cen-
tre, but lost the distance when, on the next down,
he went against Lacey. Captain Burrage
dropped back to kicking position on the thirty-
five-yard line and once more Brimfield's goal was

342 LEFT END EDWABDS

in danger. The pass was straight and true. Bur-
rage dropped the ball and swung his foot. But
two Brimfield forwards had broken through and
as the ball left the ground Andy Miller blocked
it. There was a mad scramble for the pigskin,
Williams at last falling on it on his twenty-five
yards. Norton punted poorly, the ball going diag-
onally across the gridiron, and it was Claflin's
first down on Brimfield's twenty-eight yards. At-
kinson came through centre for a yard, and then
Burrage once more dropped back for a try at goal.
The attempt looked rather desperate, for the
kicker was standing almost on the forty-yard-
line, but Brimfield's supporters held their breaths
until the Claflin half-back had swung his long leg.
Then a vast shout of relief went up from where
the maroon-and-grey megaphones waved tumul-
tuously, for Burrage had made a bad mess of
the drop-kick and the ball rolled along the ground
and was captured by a Brimfield back.

Still went in for Harris, who had been hurt in
the scramble. On the second down, with seven
to go, Norton received the ball at full speed from
Milton, broke through the Claflin line and,
pursued by the wild cheers of the Brimfield spec-
tators, made fifty-five yards through a broken
field, at last landing the ball on Claflin ?s twenty-

LEFT END EDWAKDS 343

yard line. It looked as though Brimfield 's mo-
ment of victory was at hand. Time was taken
out for a Claflin injury and eventually Atkinson
was replaced by a substitute. Brimfield made two
tries at the enemy's right end and gained four
yards. Williams dropped out of the line and re-
treated to Claflin 's twenty-five-yard line. The
ball was almost opposite the middle of the cross-
bar when it went back to him on the pass from
centre, but Innes had thrown it low and Williams
was hurried by the Blue's forwards, who came
crashing through. The ball went three yards wide
of the left-hand upright and Brimfield in the stand
groaned.

Claflin put the ball in play on her twenty-five
yards and Whittemore punted to Milton on Brim-
field's forty-five. Milton plunged back some
twelve yards before he was brought down. Nor-
ton punted on second down to the Blue's ten yards
and the ball was run back ten by the Claflin quar-
ter. The game then became a punting duel and
after three exchanges Kendall, getting the ball on
his own thirty-five-yard line, ran it back to the
opponent's forty, dodging beautifully through
a broken field and throwing off at least a half-
dozen tacklers. Brimfield tried Claflin 's left
tackle twice and totalled five yards. A penalty,

344 LEFT END EDWAEDS

however, set her back ten yards, and Norton
punted again to Clafiin's twenty yards. Gleason
was sent in by Coach Eobey in place of Lacey.
Claflin failed to gain and Whittemore punted to
Still on the Maroon's forty-four yards. Norton
tried the enemy's centre and failed of a gain and
then punted out of bounds at Claflin 's fifteen.
Claflin sent in a substitute right end and Coach
Eobey put Corcoran in for Kendall. Clafiin
punted to midfield and Corcoran made one yard
through the enemy's centre. An off-side play by
the Blue gave Brimfield five yards and took the
ball to the Blue's forty. Still gained two at left
tackle and the half ended with the pigskin on
Claflin 's thirty-eight yards, the score 0 to 0.

The teams trotted off, blanket-draped, toward
the gymnasium, the substitutes trailing along be-
hind, and the stand broke into excited discussion
of the game. So far the honours had been fairly
even, although toward the end of the second pe-
riod the ball had remained in Claflin territory
most of the time. In fact, after Williams' try
for goal, the pigskin had never been nearer to
Brimfield 's last white mark than her thirty-five-
yard line. Claflin averaged some four and a half
pounds more than the home team, but in spite of
that an unbiased critic would have given Brim-

LEFT END EDWAEDS 345

field the honours in the attacking game. Her play
seemed smoother, her men better drilled. Neither
team had shown great ability at line-plunging, al-
though Norton's fine rush of fifty-five yards and
Kendall's run of twenty-five gave Brimfield the
benefit of the ground-gained figures. Each side
had good reason to claim the ultimate victory,
and each did so, meanwhile cheering and singing
and working the enthusiasm up to a fine pitch.

CHAPTER XXVII

STEVE SMILES

STEVE caught up with Tom on the way to the
gymnasium. Tom was a disreputable looking ob-
ject. His upper lip had been cut and had swollen
to almost twice its normal size, and he had lost
half an inch of skin from one cheek. "When he
trailed, which he did as Steve grabbed him by the
arm, the effect was absolutely diabolical.

"You're the goods, Tommikins ! : exclaimed
Steve, squeezing the arm he held. " They didn't
make an inch through you. You were great ! :

" They got through once or twice,' mumbled
Tom.

" Oh, for a yard or so," scoffed Steve. " Who
gave you that peach of a mouth, Tom?

" Johnson, I think.' He touched it gingerly.
" It feels as big as a house."

" You're a blooming hero, Torn. Say, Marvin
told me the New York papers have got all about
that business at Oakdale yesterday. He didn't
see it, but someone told him. Wouldn't you love

346

LEFT END EDWAEDS 347

to read what they say I I'm going to get the pa-
pers as soon as the game's over.'

" Silly rot,' mumbled Tom. They were wait-
ing for the throng ahead to get through the door-
way. When they followed Tom paused a moment
in the hallway, his gaze following the striped legs
of the Clafiin players as they went up the stairs.
Steve tugged at his arm.

" Come on, slow-poke! What's the matter? "

" Nothing. That is, I was just thinking
how rotten those fellows will feel if they get
beaten.'

" Maybe they won't," said Steve soberly. " If
they don 't, think how rotten we '11 feel ! ' '

Tom smiled, wincing with the twinge from his
swollen lip. " I suppose someone's got to feel
bad. Come on.'

In the locker room and in the rubbing room be-
yond all was bustle. The rubber was hard at work
over the table and Danny Moore was already
busy with surgeon's plaster and medicated gauze
and nasty-smelling lotion. There was very lit-
tle talk as yet. Fellows sank on to benches and
wearily relaxed their tired muscles. Mr. Eobey
and " Boots : ' were consulting in low tones by one
of the grated windows. Tom eased himself to a
seat and began to strip down one torn woollen

48 LEFT END EDWABDS

stocking, displaying an abrasion along the shin
bone that brought an exclamation frcm Steve.

' < Shut up, ' ' said Tom. ' ' Swipe a bunch of that
absorbent cotton from Danny for me, will you?
If he sees this he will make a fuss about it. I
don't want it to get stiff on me. Hi, Fowler, how
is it! "

" All right," replied the left-guard, working a
bunch of bleeding knuckles experimentally. " It
was hot work, though. Can we hold them next
half, Hall? "

66 Sure! They're as tired as we are, I guess.
Besides, we had them on the run there toward the
last."

Torn dragged himself off to the wash-room to
bathe his leg with the cotton Steve had brought.

" Ten minutes more,' announced Lawrence.

" Hurry in to the table, you fellows,' called
Danny. ' ' Williams, come here and let me see that
knee of yours.'

" It's all right now, Danny," said Williams.
But he limped across and was freshly bandaged.
Mr. Eobey left the window and sought Captain
Miller, while " Boots," consulting the scribbled
notes in his little book, went from player to player,
criticising and advising.

< ' Five minutes ! ' ' called Lawrence.

LEFT END EDWAEDS 3^9

" Hurry up, fellows/' said Coach Eobey.
" Don't let's keep them waiting. Everyone all
right! Just a word then. You fellows played well,
and I want to tell you so. You made mistakes;
everyone does. Never mind that now. You've got
another chance. That's the main thing. We're
going to win this game. We're going to
score two touchdowns and we're going to
hold them off, fellows. You can do it if you
make up your minds to. I want every one of you
to go back on the field looking as though you'd
just come out of a Turkish bath and hadn't done
a lick of work. I want every mother's son of you
to smile from the time you leave this building
until the last whistle blows. If I see one of you
who isn't smiling I'll pull him out! We want to
make those fellows understand right away that
we're going to win, that we know we're going to
win and that we can't help being happy about it!
But you've got to do more than smile. You've
got to work like the dickens! You've got to work
just about twice as hard as you've been working.
Any one of you who thinks he can't do that say so
now.' Mr. Eobey 's eyes searched the earnest,
attentive faces around him. " All right. Now,
there's just one important criticism I've got to
make. You fellows were slow. Milton was slow

350 LEFT END EDWAEDS

in getting his signals off and the rest of you were
slow in starting. If you'll speed up you'll get the
jump on those fellows every time. I want to see
you do it. I want to see you jump! I'll pull out
the first man of you who doesn't start the instant
the play begins. Understand that, please. I'll
forgive mistakes, but I won't stand for slowness.
All right. Here's the line-up: Edwards, Glea-
son, Fowler, Thursby, Hall, Williams, Miller, Mil-
ton, Still, Kendall, Norton. How much time is
there, Joe! "

" About three minutes,' answered Lawrence.

" All right. On the trot now! "

The cheer leaders leaped to their places as the
teams came hustling back to the field and waved
their megaphones and dropped them and beat
time with clenched hands as the cheers burst forth.

" Rail, rail, Brimfield! Rah, rail, Brimfield!
Rah, rah, Brimfi-e-ld!

; Claflin! Claflin! Claflin! Rah, rah, rah, Claf-
lin! Claflin! Claflin! "

And then Fowler had thudded the ball away
with a long swing of his foot and the last half
had begun.

The Claflin full-back pulled the ball out of the
air, quick interference formed about him and he
came charging back up the field. Five — ten —

LEFT END EDWARDS 351

fifteen yards ! Then Miller pulled him down with
a savage tackle and the two teams faced each
other. Umpire and referee dodged out of the
way, Ainsmith called his signals and a back tore
at Williams. The secondary defence sprang to
the point of attack. There was an instant of con-
fused heaving and swaying. Then the whistle
sounded and the lines straightened again.
" Second down! Seven to gain! "
Steve, profiting by Miller's advice, kept his
gaze fixed on the face of the opposing end who was
edging out into the field. Then the ball was in
play and the Claflin end came tearing down upon
him, dodged to the right and then strove to slip
past him inside. But Steve met him squarely
with his shoulder and sent him sprawling. Behind
him the teams were off under a punt and he re-
covered himself and raced along. It was Milton's
ball on his thirty-yard line. Brimfield punted on
first down and Claflin tore off three yards through
centre and then kicked. Neither team was able
to gain consistently through the line and each
punted on second or third down. Brimfield had
a trifle the better of the exchanges, aided a little
by the breeze which had freshened since the be-
ginning of the game. With the ball on Claflin 's
forty-two yards a fumble was recovered by Ain-

352 LEFT END EDWAEDS

smith for a loss of seven yards, and on third down
Clafiin attempted a forward pass which was in-
tercepted by Captain Miller and carried to Claf-
lin's thirty-yard mark. Brimfield cheered en-
couragingly and Norton smashed through left
tackle for four. Kendall added two more and on
a wing shift Still made the distance and the ball
was down on the Blue's twenty yards. Two yards
through centre by Norton was followed by a wide
end run and the loss of four yards, Still being
captured by Captain Burrage. Norton failed to
gain at the line and Williams dropped back to
kick.

Milton followed to hold the ball for him and
Brimfield held her breath. Thursby passed low
to the quarter and when the ball arose it bounded
away from a charging Claflin forward and went
dancing and rolling back up the field. It was
finally secured by Gleason on Claflin 's thirty-
three yards. Three tries by the Maroon netted
but six and again Williams went back. This time
the kick was short and Claflin secured the ball
on her five-yard line and ran it in to the thirteen.
Claflin made four around Steve's end and three
through AVilliams. Then Whittemore punted to
midfield.

Brimfield returned to her line-smashing and

LEFT END EDWAKDS 353

secured first down on the Blue's thirty-six yards.
There a forward pass to Captain Miller grounded
and Milton made a short punt to the Blue's ten
yards. Steve upset Burrage in his tracks. Claf-
lin tried the Brimfield centre twice for four yards
and punted to the fifty-yard line. Milton came +
back twelve and Kendall added six around the
enemy's left end. Norton secured first down
through right guard. Time was called and Danny
Moore scurried on with his pail. Milton was in-
jured and led off, Marvin taking his place. A
forward pass to Captain Miller netted twelve
yards. Marvin carried the ball through centre
for two and Kendall met a stone wall when he
tried to get past Johnson. Norton made a yard
through left tackle and Williams dropped back
to the twenty-yard line. The Brimfield supporters
were cheering wildly, imploring a touchdown, but
it seemed that a field goal was the best they were
to have.

" Get through and block it ! " implored the Claf-
lin quarter.

" Hold that line! " shrieked Marvin.

Back came the ball, Williams swung his leg,
ran back and to the right and passed to Steve.
But the ball went wide and settled into the arms
of the Claflin right end. Dodging and feinting

354 LEFT END EDWAEDS

that speedy youngster tore off thirty-five yards
before he was brought down and the ball was Claf-
lin's on Brimfield's forty yards. The Blue found
her stride again then and plunged through Fow-
ler twice for good gains, finally securing her dis-
tance on the Maroon's twenty-eight. Fowler, who
was staggering, was taken out and McClure came
on. Clafiin tried Steve's end and made four yards
and then, on a fake kick formation, got three more
through centre. Burrage tried a drop-kick for
goal from the thirty-yard line, but McClure broke
through and blocked it, the ball going to the Blue
on Brimfield's thirty-eight yards. Two tries at
the line gave Claflin three yards and Ainsmith
shot the ball away to Mumford at the far side
of the field. Miller stopped the runner after a
twelve-yard gain. Claflin worked the ball back
toward the centre of the field in two downs and
then, faking a kick, gained two yards through
Hall. It was third down, with three to go, and
again Burrage tried a placement. The ball went
wide and came back to the twenty-five-yard line.
Norton punted on second down and time was
called after Claflin had caught and run back five.
Churchill replaced Tom at right guard when
the last quarter started and Lacey returned to
the game at left tackle. Claflin put Atkinson

LEFT END EDWAKDS 355

back at full and trotted in a substitute right tackle.
On the first play Ainsmith smashed through the
Brimfield line for ten yards, and then added two
more. The weak place was Williams. Atkinson
got four and then two through the centre. With,
the pigskin on Brimfield 's forty yards an intricate
wing shift failed to fool the Maroon and Whitte-
more was stopped after a gain of a yard, the ball
going to Brimfield.

Marvin gained two through left tackle and Nor-
ton punted. Clafiin ran back to her thirty-four
yards. On the next play Claflin was set back fif-
teen yards for holding and, after an attempted
forward pass which grounded, punted to the Ma-
roon's forty-five. Marvin caught and dodged
back fifteen yards before he was stopped. On
the first play he shot the ball to Steve, and Steve,
making a good catch, reeled off ten before he was

•

brought down. Another forward pass to Captain
Miller gained five. Norton plunged at the line
for three and Kendall failed to gain. With the
ball on Clafiin ?s twenty-two yards Williams went
back. It was a fake, however, Marvin taking the
ball for a straight plunge through centre, which
gave Brimfield first down on Claflin 's eighteen.
Norton plugged the centre for two and Kendall
swept around the Blue's left end for three more.

356 LEFT END EDWARDS

With, the pigskin on Clafiin's thirteen-yard line
a score seemed certain. But Norton was stopped
for no gain and once more Williams dropped back
to kick.

Williams, however, was badly tuckered and was
so slow in getting the ball away that again Claflin
blocked and the ball was captured by Mumford
on the twenty-five-yard line. Claflin punted on
first down and the ball went out of bounds at the
Blue's forty. Norton kicked to Claflin's fifteen
and Ainsmith ran back to his thirty-six, receiv-
ing a salvo of applause from the blue section of
the stand. Claflin made four around Miller's end
and on the next play was presented with five,
Brimfield being detected off-side. Atkinson made
six through Williams and followed it with two
more past Lacey. On a fake kick Ainsmith got
through Thursby for three, taking the ball across
the centre line for first down. A forward pass to
right end was upset by Steve and Claflin punted
on second down. Kendall caught on his twenty-
five and was stopped at the thirty. Brimfield made
seven in two plunges at the left side of the op-
posing line and then Still fumbled. Marvin re-
covered and Norton kicked to Clafiin's thirty.
Steve and Miller upset Ainsmith where he caught.
Claflin was now playing on the defensive and

LEFT END EDWAEDS 357

kicked on first down. The punt was short and
Kendall got it on Claflin 's forty-eight yards and
made ten before he was caught.

The timer announced four minutes to play.
Claflin sent in a new quarter-back and Coach
Eobey replaced Y/illiams with Gleason. Williams
was groggy and had to be carried off the field.
From the grand stand came imploring cries from
Brimfield for a touchdown and equally imploring
shouts of " Hold 'em! Hold em! " from Claflin.

Still took the pigskin on a criss-cross and made
four around Claflin 's right end. Norton shot
through centre for the rest of the distance, plac-
ing the ball on the Blue's twenty-eight. With
Williams out of the game it was a touchdown or
nothing. Kendall and Still plugged the left of the
Blue's line for two yards each and Norton got
around the other end for three. With three to
go on third down Marvin worked a delayed pass
and made first down on the Blue's seventeen
yards. The time-keeper announced three minutes
left. Thursby gave place to Coolidge. Norton
plunged through right tackle for five, but some-
one had held and Brimfield was set back fifteen.
Kendall tried the Claflin left end and gained four
on a long run across the field. Marvin took the
ball for a plunge through centre, but was thrown

358 LEFT END EDWAKDS

back for a loss. Norton was forced to punt and
put the ball out of bounds at the five-yard line.

The time-keeper announced one minute left and
Claflin punted from behind her goal-line, the ball
going high and being caught by Marvin on the
Blue's thirty yards. Brirnfield, desperate for a
score, lined up quickly and Norton struck the

Claflin centre and piled through for ten yards.
The Blue was weakening. Kendall added four
and Still made a yard at left tackle. On the fif-
teen-yard line Marvin sent McClure back as if
to try for a goal. Evidently Claflin accepted the
bluff in good faith, for, although there were cries
of " Fake! " the Claflin ends played well in.
Marvin called his signals once, hesitated and
pulled Kendall closer in to protect the kicker.
Then, " Signals! " he shouted. " 16—31—27—
19! " He glanced sharply around the back-field.

< < 16—34—27 ' '

Back went the ball, but not to McClure. The
quarter had it and was stepping back out of
the path of the plunging players. Then his
arm shot out and off went the ball, arching to
the left, over the end of the battling, swaying
lines, straight and far and true to where a lithe
figure stood with upraised hand near the Blue's
ten-yard line. Too late Claflin saw her error.

LEFT END EDWAKDS 359

Steve ran a step forward, felt the pigskin settle
into his outstretched hands, whirled on his heel
and sped toward the goal-line. The Claflin right
end was almost on him as he crossed the five-yard
mark, but when desperate arms settled about
Steve's legs and brought him crashing to earth
he was well over that last white line and the day-
was won! Frantic blue-stockinged youths dropped
mercilessly down upon him and drove the breath
from his body, in his ears was a wild and terrific
clamour of frenzied joy and faintly a whistle
shrilled. Steve, his nose buried in the soft sod,
clutched the ball tightly beneath him and smiled
in the darkness.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE CHUMS READ A TELEGRAM

THE tumult was over, although from the Bow
came at times a wild shout of exultation from
some enthusiastic youth. In 12 Billings, Steve
and Tom were dressing for the banquet. There
was no feverish hurry in their movements. Tom
sat for minutes at a time with a shirt draped
across his knees and smiled fatuously through
swollen lips. There was plenty of time. The ban-
quet was not to be until seven, and it was now
still but a little past six. When they spoke they
spoke slowly, lazily, as though nothing much mat-
tered, as though Fate had given them everything
they wanted and nothing was left to be desired.
Steve, dreamily slipping a belt through the loops
of his best trousers, said :

" Tom, when I look at you I'm ashamed of my-
self. There you are with a face like a war map
and one leg all bunged up, and here am I with-
out a scratch. I've got a bum wrist, but it doesn't
show.' And Steve scowled at the offending
member.

360

LEFT END EDWARDS 301

Tom grinned. ' ' You can have my mouth if you
want it, ' ' he said. After a minute he spoke again.
" I was glad about Benson," he said.

Steve nodded. " So was I."

Tom laughed. " Yes, you looked it! "

" Well, I didn't know why Eobey was taking
me out, of course. It seemed after I'd made that
touchdown that he'd ought to let me play the
game out. Benson was rather — rather pathetic
when he hobbled on. I'm glad he's got his let-
ter, though."

" Yes, and there's only one thing I'm not
glad about,' responded Tom thoughtfully, be-
ginning to squirm into his shirt. "I'm not
glad we missed that goal. I wanted that extra
point."

" How could we help missing it! Andy isn't
any goal kicker, and all the others were afraid
to try, I suppose. What's the odds, though! We
won, and six to nothing is good enough, isn't
it! "

" Mm — yes ; seven to nothing would have looked
better, though.'

" And you're the fellow," scoffed Steve, " who
was almost crying awhile back because Claflin
would feel br.d TVP ]!r!:od her! "

Tom only grunted. Steve went into a day-

362 LEFT END EDWARDS

dream with one leg in his trousers until, pres-
ently, Tom laughed softly.

" What are you choking about? " asked Steve.

" Just thinking. Remember, Steve, coming on
in the train how we were talking about what —
what it would be like here? :

" N--no," answered Steve. " Were we? "

" Yes. I remember you said that in the stories

the hero was always suspected of something
he hadn't done and you said you'd bet that
if anyone tried that on you you'd make a
kick. ' '

"Well, what of it? "

" You didn't, though. Some of the fellows
thought you'd swiped that blue-book that time and
you didn't make a murmur.'

" Because '

" Because you thought I'd done it and was try-
ing to shield me. I know. Then you said that in
the stories the hero saves someone from drown-
ing and the football captain puts him into the big
game and he wins it by a wonderful run the length
of the field. ' '

" That's right, isn't it? All the school stories
have it like that, don't they? "

" I know."

" Well, then "

LEFT END EDWARDS 363

" The funny thing is that it happened like that
to us, Steve, or pretty nearly. I don't mean
that I- -I actually saved you from drowning,
but "

" You sure did, though! "

" Anyway, it was something like that, wasn't
it? And then you went and won the game in the
last minute of play, just as they do in the
stories."

11 I didn't make any run the length of the
field,' denied Steve. " All I did was catch the
ball and go ten yards with it. Nothing wonderful
about that."

" Still, it's all pretty much like the story-writ-
ers tell it, after all, eh? That's what struck me
as funny."

" Huh! It doesn't seem to me much like it is
in the stories. Say, we forgot about the papers,
Tom! "

" What papers? "

" The New York papers, with the account of
the thrilling rescue at Oakdale, with your pic-
ture ' '

" He didn't get any picture of me," said Tom
grimly.

" He made you talk, though,' laughed Steve.

" He'd make anyone talk," Tom grunted.

364 LEFT END EDWAKDS

" By Jove! " He jumped suddenly to Ms feet,
and with more animation than had been dis-
played in Number 12 for a half-hour hurried to
the closet.

" What's up? " asked Steve in surprise.

" Telegram," came in smothered tones from
Tom. " Here it is. Lawrence handed it to me
in the gym after the game. Said it came at noon,
but Eobey wouldn't let him give it to me. Bet
you it's from my dad.'

Tom tore the end from the yellow envelope and
there was silence in the room for a moment. At
last, with a queer expression on his battered coun-
tenance, he walked across and held the mes-
sage out to Steve. " It's for you, too,' he said
quietly.

Steve took it and read: " Tannersville, Pa.,
Nov. 25. Morning papers have account of Oak-
dale scrape grateful to you for your rescue of
Steve God bless you show this to Steve your
father joins me in love to you both. John T. Ed-
wards."

§«

Steve let the telegram fall and stared blankly
at Tom.

"What — do — you know — about that!" he
gasped. " They've made it up, Tom! :

Tom nodded gravely. " It— it " A slow

LEFT END EDWAEDS 365

smile overspread his face. " Honest, Steve,
that's better than winning the game! "

' i Yon bet it is ! And yon did it ! "

" Oh, no." Tom's eyes twinkled merrily.
" Yon did it yonrself, Steve, by trying to get
drowned! "

THE END

JOHN FOX, JR'S.

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